As we had told you last week, Judge Joe McCarville set a hearing date for two men suspected of killing a Hutchinson woman earlier this year. Now comes word that the defense is asking for a mental evaluation for 48-year-old Billy Craig Jr.

Attorney Donald Snapp is asking the court grant a mental evaluation to determine if Craig is competent for the case to continue. In his brief motion, Snapp says he doesn’t believe his client understands the nature and purpose of the proceedings, even though his client has numerous convictions and has been through the court system many times before. A hearing has been set on the issue for next Wednesday.

A preliminary hearing for Craig and 32-year-old Christopher Logsdon is currently set for January 30.

The two are charged with first degree murder, conspiracy to commit first degree murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The charges coming from the shooting death of 27-year-old Jennifer Heckel. She was killed in her home at 501 Coronado back on June 14.

Prosecutors say it appears she was a victim of mistaken identity.

The state is seeking a hard 50 sentence for Craig and Logsdon, if they’re convicted in the murder case.

Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen also set a preliminary hearing date for Logsdon in a separate Matter for January 18.

He faces a charge of aggravated battery for an alleged incident where he got into an altercation with Eric Harbacek. He’s alleged to have cause great bodily harm or disfigurement according to the criminal complaint. This allegedly occurring on November 26, 2010.