THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 4, 1996 TAG: 9607040552
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LYNN WALTZ, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 53 lines
Police continue to look for evidence in the murder case against Tobin Jones, including a second search of his former home - where his wife's body was found - and searching his property locker at the City Jail.
Search warrants filed last week indicate that police may still be looking for a murder weapon and are trying to match a key on Jones' key ring to the locked room where the body of his wife, Megan, was found the week after Mother's Day.
In other developments, Jones' preliminary hearing was postponed Wednesday from July 10 until Sept. 4. The result is that prosecutors and defense attorneys will have more time to shore up their positions: murder versus suicide.
Defense attorneys said Wednesday they are continuing to press prosecutors for a cause of death and are asking for additional testing for drugs they believe Megan may have used to kill herself.
Also Wednesday, Judge Robert M. Yacobi granted Jones' attorney's request for a mental competency evaluation over Jones' protestation that he doesn't need one.
``I am not in favor of this motion,'' Jones told Yacobi. ``I believe it should be withdrawn. I've advised my attorney to do so. It is premature. The cause of death is still pending.''
Jones' attorney, Stanley Sacks, told the judge he was obligated to ask for the evaluation because family and friends of Jones were concerned about his mental state.
Last week, police again searched Jones' former home in the 700 block of Delaware Avenue and seized a pill bottle, pictures, a check register, videotapes, fragments of glass and a rock, and the bedroom door. They made a cast of pry marks on the door frame.
It was not clear whether they considered the rock or glass potential murder weapons. Soon after the murder, police collected blood splotches, and seized dresser drawers, a notebook, sandals, sweat pants and a pillow.
Also, court papers show that statements Jones made to police were turned over to defense attorneys.
``There was nothing incriminating in the statements made to police,'' said James Broccoletti, hired Tuesday by Jones to work as co-counsel with Sacks.
Meanwhile, Jones' problems in jail continue, with new charges that he bit a deputy who was trying to ``detain'' him. Next Tuesday, Jones faces misdemeanor assault and battery charges that he bit William T. Lambert on the ring finger on June 22 after deputies found what appeared to be an escape plan written on his cell wall.
Jail officials said Jones has at least 14 infractions. They include trying to send notes to other inmates, refusing to obey orders, and possession of a rusty nail, considered a weapon.
``The amount of violations from Dr. Jones is way above the norm,'' said George Schaefer, jail public affairs officer. by CNB