April 2, 2013
Walhalla, SC. A hearing was held today in Oconee General Sessions Court in the case of the State v. Nicholas Bonelli. Bonelli is charged with Murder in the November deaths of Sandra Myers and Clarine Smith.
The Honorable Cordell Maddox heard testimony from medical professionals and experts that the defendant suffers from mental and physical disabilities that render him unable to assist in his defense. The Judge found that the defendant was incompetent to stand trial and unlikely to become so in the foreseeable future. The Court ordered that judicial proceedings be commenced in the Probate Court to commit the defendant for hospitalization at the SC Department of Mental Health in Columbia. Judge Maddox also ordered that the charges remain pending to ensure that should the Department of Mental Health ever deem Mr. Bonelli to be competent, the matter would come back before the Court.
“This was a tragic case where a family lost two completely innocent loved ones during a single violent afternoon. The pain and loss they have suffered is immeasurable,” said Solicitor Chrissy Adams. “While it is our goal to seek justice for the family of the victims, the defendant has been found incompetent and, under South Carolina law, we cannot proceed to trial. However, the Court’s ruling today will ensure that the defendant will remain in a secure facility so that he cannot cause further harm in our community.”