Defense wil claim insanity in Legg case
By Lee Williams
Published in News on October 4, 2006 1:55 PM
The defense attorney for Roy George Legg told prosecutors this week he hopes to prove that his client was insane when he fatally shot a storekeeper's son-in-law during an armed robbery in May 2003.
Legg, 58, who lived in a tent at Tony Daw's Campground, is accused of fatally shooting 43-year-old Ricky A. Thompson, during an armed robbery at Ralph Casey's Grocery and Auto Parts store in Seven Springs.
Legg's defense attorney Glenn Barfield wrote a letter to the Wayne County District Attorney's office Sept. 18 stating that he intended to rely on the insanity defense during Legg's murder trial.
The letter stated, "In addition, the defendant further gives notice that he intends to introduce expert testimony relating to a mental disease, defect and condition bearing upon the issue of whether he had a mental state required for the offense charged in the case."
Barfield did not return a call for comment. Wayne County Assistant District Attorney Matt Delbridge, who is expected to try the case, declined to comment on Barfield's legal strategy.
"It's not appropriate for me to comment on that," Delbridge said.
However, Lena Casey, who owned the store where the murder took place, said she wasn't buying Legg's insanity defense.
"He wasn't insane at the time," Mrs. Casey said.
Legg faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, armed robbery, preparation to commit burglary, breaking and entering, larceny and possession of stolen goods in connection with Thompson's murder and the attempted murder of the victim's wife, Teresa Thompson on May 24, 2003.
Ricky Thompson was the father of Wayne County Deputy Randy Thompson, officials said.
According to reports, Mrs. Casey called Ricky Thompson, her son-in-law, to the store after she heard someone in the building and saw the back of a man's head on her security monitor. Mrs. Casey, who lives next door, then called 9-1-1 at 3:35 a.m.
Armed with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, Legg attempted to pilfer a laundry list of items from the store including four loaves of bread, four packs of cheese, four bags of potato chips, four packs of M&M's, Miracle Whip, peanut butter, batteries, mustard, four Pepsis, 19 packs of cigarettes and other tobacco products, a flashlight, two packs of ham, two packs of bologna, two cans of beef stew and two candy bars. Legg's gray 1985 Cadillac Fleetwood was parked outside the store, according to court records.
But Legg's alleged grocery store raid was interrupted, sources said.
Ricky Thompson entered the store, confronted the intruder and the two exchanged gunfire, officials said. Other relatives arrived at the store and detained Legg, also known as George Roy Legg, until deputies arrived, officials said.
Both parties sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Legg was treated at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville. However, Ricky Thompson's wounds were fatal. He died at the scene.
A video and audio tape detailing the grim ordeal has been taken into evidence, according to court records.
Legg's trial was scheduled for this month, but that date has been pushed back to an unspecified date, officials said.