Woman may be fit to stand trial

Tuesday, July 13, 2004 | 8:19 a.m.

A woman accused of beating her children to death with a baseball bat may soon be found mentally fit to stand trial.

On Oct. 9, 2003, Ewing was found incompetent to stand trial and was sent to Lake's Crossing, the state's mental hospital in Sparks.

Deputy Public Defender Scott Coffee said Monday that while it has been determined that Ewing is now competent to stand trial, she might not remain competent if she is transferred to Clark County Detention Center.

Ewing is charged with two counts of murder with a deadly weapon in connection with the deaths of her children, Phillip, 8, and Julie, 4, in their apartment on Las Vegas Boulevard North across from Nellis Air Force Base.

Psychiatric reports written soon after Ewing's arrest indicated she was hearing voices, believes Jesus will soon return and was deemed incompetent to stand trial, according to court records.

That's why her charges were put on hold until she could be proven competent.

Additionally, the District Attorney's office reserved the right to seek the death penalty, which would be determined by a committee if and when Ewing is determined competent.

District Court Judge Joseph Bonaventure will hear arguments on July 19 as to Ewing's ability to maintain her competency at the detention center, where conditions could include isolation, according to Coffee.

If Ewing is found to be competent a preliminary hearing in Las Vegas Justice Court would soon follow.

According to police, in the early morning hours of Sept. 23, 2003, Ewing took her children to a Wal-Mart, bought a baseball bat, took them home and allegedly beat them to death with the bat.

Police said Ewing then stepped in front of a tractor-trailer in an apparent suicide attempt.