Kentucky Lawmaker Found Competent for Trial in Examiner’s Death

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A judge has ruled that former Kentucky lawmaker Steve Nunn is competent to stand trial in the shooting death of his ex-fiancee after a psychiatrist testified that Nunn is capable of assisting in his defense.

Nunn, a longtime lawmaker and the son of a former governor, was evaluated by a team of psychiatrists, doctors and social workers during his stay at the Kentucky Correctional Psychiatric Center from Jan. 25 to Feb. 17.

Amy Trivette, a psychiatrist at the center, testified by phone during the 30-minute hearing Monday that Nunn understood the charges against him and the consequences of those charges. She said he has a “good understanding” of the courtroom system.

Nunn, who has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge, cooperated with staff at the state psychiatric center, Trivette said under questioning from a prosecutor. She said that he would be able to cooperate with his legal team.

“It is my opinion, with a reasonable degree of medical certainty, that Mr. Nunn does have the capacity to appreciate the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him, and that he does have an ability to participate rationally in his own defense,” she testified.

Fayette County Circuit Judge Pamela Goodwine said that based on the testimony, she concluded that Nunn was able to provide his legal team with information necessary to build his defense.

The judge said the ex-legislator would have the ability to “confer intelligently, to testify coherently and to follow the evidence presented.”

Trivette filed a report that was sealed by Goodwine.

No other witness testified at the hearing. Nunn was at the courthouse but did not appear at the hearing, having provided a written waiver to avoid attending.

Nunn, 57, is charged in the shooting death of Amanda Ross, 29, outside her Lexington home last Sept. 11. Ross was an examiner with the state insurance department. Nunn has also pleaded not guilty to violating an emergency protective order. He is being held at the Fayette County Detention Center.

Defense attorney Warren Scoville declined comment after the hearing, as did Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Lou Anna Red Corn. Ross’ mother, Diana Ross, attended the hearing but left afterward without speaking to reporters.

No future hearing date was set. Prosecutors were given until April 16 to file an unspecified motion, and the defense was given two weeks to respond.

As the son of former Kentucky Gov. Louie Nunn, Steve Nunn was the heir to one of Kentucky’s most famous political names. He established his own political career, spending some 15 years in the state legislature. He made an unsuccessful run for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 2003, then failed to win re-election to the state House in 2006.

Nunn had been serving as deputy secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, but was put on administrative leave in February and resigned in March after he was charged with domestic violence against Ross, with whom he had lived for several months.