Jury selection begins Monday for the trial of the man accused of killing two police officers in the Alaska village of Hoonah in 2010. Alaska Superior Court Judge David George ruled Friday that John Marvin Jr. is fit to stand trial after reviewing mental evaluations from two psychologists at the Alaska Psychiatric Institute, according to Alaska Public Radio Network.
In August 2010, Martin was arrested on murder charges after an armed standoff. He is accused of the alleged ambush-style killings of Hoonah police officers Matt Tokuoka and Tony Wallace. Hoonah is a Tlingit community of about 750 people located 40 air miles west of Juneau in Southeast Alaska.
Marvin's lawyer had asked the judge for a mental evaluation of his client after conversations with Marvin became difficult. The API psychologists suggested Marvin "was simply in denial or being evasive," according to APRN's report, "understood the court proceedings," and was competent to stand trial.
The trial is happening in Juneau, with opening arguments expected to start mid-week.