Charles Curry found competent to stand trial for shootings in South Austin in 2018

AUSTIN, Texas - An Austin man police say murdered his neighbor and terrorized South Austin with a series of random shootings in July 2018 has been found competent to stand trial.

Charles Curry's hearing this afternoon was different than most. Rather than taking place in a courtroom, the hearing took place on Zoom. During the call, attorneys and prosecutors both agreed Curry is now competent to stand trial.

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In 2018, police say Curry was linked to the murder of 32-year-old Christian Meroney and two days later, went on a shooting spree in Austin. In the beginning, Curry was found incompetent to stand trial and asked to be moved to the state hospital. However, due to the waitlist, he was unable to get a bed.

It was while in custody at the Travis County Jail that he began to regain competency and after testing by doctors, it was determined that he was competent enough to stand trial. He confirmed it himself during the hearing Tuesday.

As the virtual hearing took place, it was setting precedent as more court hearings become virtual. Travis County DA Margaret Moore said the county moved to fully remote Zoom meetings in March but just recently moved to more contested type hearings.

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Pre-trials are even being held via Zoom, with defendants, lawyers, prosecutors, court reporters, and parole officers all participating from their respective homes or offices.

The Travis County DA's office says the next step in Curry's case is that the defense will most likely enter a plea of insanity, not denying the charges against him, just defending the mental state he was in when the crimes were committed.

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