Judge Joe McCarville Wednesday granted a defense request that a suspect in a Hutchinson murder be given a mental exam.

The attorney for 48-year-old Billy Craig Jr., Donald Snapp asked 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. He stated in court Wednesday that he’s afraid his client doesn’t comprehend things that he is telling him, and bases that on his observations.

Moving on the side of caution, Judge McCarville granted the motion, but wanted it done by Horizon’s Mental Health Facility in Hutchinson, as opposed to the defense request to have Dr. Mark Goodman do it. The judge also decided against sending him to Larned because of the difference in cost, which is about 250-dollars at Horizon’s compared with what the judge says is 40-thousand dollars at Larned.

That mean that preliminary hearing for Craig and co-defendant, 32-year-old Christopher Logsdon, which is currently set for January 30, may be pushed back.

Craig was in the courtroom during the hearing and on his way out, held a legal pad toward the gallery showing the words in large letters, “I still believe in Jesus.” He made sure those in the gallery could read it. Why, he showed it is unclear.

Craig and Logsdon 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.