Waco area under wind advisory
The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory until 6 pm for all of North Texas, including Waco and surrounding counties. Winds from the north to northwest of 25 to 30 mph are expected, with stronger gusts during daylight hours.
Home > Waco Breaking News > Archives > 2008 > August > 28 > Entry
Psychiatrist testifies at Coble retrial
A psychiatrist who evaluated convicted murderer Billie Wayne Coble when he was 15 gave testimony this morning in Coble’s punishment retrial in 54th State District Court.
Dr. Ralph Hodges, a Dallas psychiatrist with 51 years’ experience, had evaluated Coble when he was 15 and living at the Corsicana State Home.
Coble, 59, is being retried to determine whether he should return to death row for the murders of Robert and Zelda Vicha and their son, Waco police Sgt. Bobby Vicha, on Aug. 29, 1989. His death sentence was overturned by a federal appeals court and a new punishment trial was ordered.
Hodges read from his May 1964 report, which said that Coble was admitted to the home because of his“unmanageability.” His life’s ambition at the time was to become a painter, according to the report.
Coble had confessed to the doctor that he committed several robberies and stole the ball bearings from bicycles to keep them for working because he didn’t have a bike.
Hodges’ report described Coble as paranoid, distant and “deliberately non-smiling” with a low self-esteem. He also exhibited a low opinion of women in general and told the doctor that he beat up a girl in a classroom when she made fun of him.
Coble was diagnosed with a sociopathic personality disturbance and his long-term prognosis did not look good, Hodges read from the report.
Defense attorney Alex Calhoun disputed the report, saying that the diagnostic manual used for such evaluations had since been revised, including that someone can’t be diagnosed with a character disorder until the brain is fully developed, which is considered to be age 18.
For Wednesday’s trial coverage, click here.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Courthouse, Headlines, Police & crime
Comments