JUDGE: KOULA COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL
Thursday, August 12th, 2010 -- 9:10 AM
A judge has determined a West Salem man accused of shooting and killing his parents understands the charges against him, and is mentally competent to stand trial.Eric Koula, 40, is charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of forgery.
Koula was arrested in July for the deaths of his parents, Dennis and Merna Koula. He told authorities he found their bodies on May 24 at their home outside of La Crosse. But, investigators believe he committed the murders after running into financial difficulty. Records indicate he forged a $50,000 check from his parents' account on the day of the murders, and deposited the check in his own account the day after.
After reviewing an evaluation, La Crosse County Judge Todd Bjerke ruled Wednesday Koula is mentally competent to stand trial.
Koula is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on a $1 million bond. He is due back in court August 27.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.