For now, Bonelli back to jail

An 86-year old Oconeean brought to court in a wheelchair has been certified by a state doctor as  incompetent to stand trial on two murder charges. But Circuit Judge Cordell Maddox decided yesterday that, for the time being, he is going to hold up a process that could lead to defendant Nicholas Bonelli being institutionalized. Maddox said he first wants to directly hear from the state Department of Mental Health doctor about Bonelli’s condition, and he directed the prosecutor’s office to make the arrangements for two weeks, the next time Maddox holds court in Oconee County. The judge announced his ruling after hearing from Assistant Solicitor Lindsey Simmons who said that, on November 2, a member of the family of one of the victims arrived at the homicide scene to find Bonelli stabbing himself. It was in that trailer home on the Smith Dairy Road where the bodies of two women were found. Clarine Smith and her niece, Sandra Smith Myers, had been stabbed to death.