Man Admits to Killing Pro-Life Advocate Jim Pouillon, Who Protested Abortion

State   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Nov 10, 2009   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

Man Admits to Killing Pro-Life Advocate Jim Pouillon, Who Protested Abortion

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 10
, 2009

Owosso, MI (LifeNews.com) — The central Michigan man who allegedly killed pro-life advocate Jim Pouillon as he protested abortion outside a local high school has admitted to the homicide. New court documents say Harlan Drake took his two nieces and a teen boy to school before repeatedly shooting and killing Pouillon and another man.

The documents said Harlan Drake confessed to killing James Pouillon and Mike Fuoss, a local businessman with whom he had a feud.

Drakes statement to police confessing the shooting are in an affidavit that was used to justify a search of his apartment and truck after the shootings, which took place on September 11.

The affidavit was available Friday after having been sealed for 56 days.

Drake is charged with first-degree murder and gun violations, but his attorney is considering an insanity defense even though he has now been declared mentally competent to stand trial.

Authorities have said Drake, 33, didn’t like Pouillon’s graphic signs and cited that as a reason for killing Pouillon.

Drake had been declared mentally incompetent to stand trial in September. But late last month, a judge accepted the latest report saying his mental health has improved after getting treatment.

Drake’s competency means he understands the charges and can assist his defense.

His lawyer, Robert Ashley, is seeking approval for a separate evaluation of Drake’s mental health at the time of the shootings of Pouillon and Mike Fuoss.

District Court Judge Terrance P. Dignan signed an order shortly after the shooting remanding the 33-year-old to the State Department of Mental Health for treatment, though Judge Dignan said there was a good possibility that treatment would make it so Drake will attain competence enough to be tried for the attack.

He said Drake’s suicide attempt two days after the shooting was a factor along with a 2004 crash Drake was involved in that resulted in the death of two teenagers which saw them fail to yield to his truck.

Drake was scheduled to receive treatment at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry for a maximum of 15 months, and the first trial on the charges had been postponed until then.

President Barack Obama came under fire for his slow response to the shooting of the pro-life advocate.

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