A 17-year-old Northside teen, charged as an adult in the brutal death of a 13-year-old acquaintance, is competent to stand trial, a Hamilton County Common Pleas judge ruled Friday.

Mary Hall

        Dwayne Henry, who is accused of killing Mary Hall, will go on trial Sept. 23. Mary was found beaten to death in an abandoned building at Chase and Dana avenues on Jan. 27, 2001,

        Mr. Henry's attorney, Greg Cohen, told Judge John Andrew West on Friday that his client intends to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.

        Mr. Henry is charged with aggravated murder, murder and kidnapping. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

        Police said he gave a statement saying he hit Mary with a board, slashed her throat and gouged her eyes out. Then he allegedly pushed her body through a hole in the floor of the building to the basement several stories below.

        Prosecutors said he intended to have sex with the girl and hurt her. She tried to get away but was held against her will, they said.

        Mr. Henry was initially found incompetent May 29. At two subsequent hearings, that ruling was upheld.

        However, the Friday decision came after five medical experts, including at least two psychologists, reported to Judge West that they believe Mr. Henry is now faking incompetence.

        Shortly after his arrest, Mr. Henry refused to talk to anyone and failed to respond to sounds.

        After nearly a year, he has become more responsive.

        Before one meeting with psychologist Dr. Sherry Baker, he was observed having an animated discussion on the telephone.

        Dr. Baker met with Mr. Henry three times. She testified Friday that in her two most recent meetings with the teen, he pretended not to understand concepts such as school, police, or even what it means to have older or younger siblings.

        “It appeared contrived,” she said.

        Mr. Henry has been held at Summit Behavioral Center in Carthage. Judge West ordered him to remain there for now.

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