COPIAH COUNTY, MISS- Convicted and put on death row for the murder and robbery of a Wesson Pawn Shop owner, now Erik Hollie is getting a second chance from the state’s high court.Hollie was sentenced to death by a Copiah County jury after he plead guilty to capital murder in 2010. Wesson Pawn Shop owner Denmon Ward was killed when police say Hollie was robbing his store.
Hollie will now be evaluated my mental health professionals. If Hollie is found to be mentally competent, he will stand trial for the crimes. If Hollie is found to be mentally incompetent, he will be put into a mental health facility.
Hollie’s defender says that the crime happened as a result of a mental break, and that Hollie should have already been granted a competency exam before now.
