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Suspect in 2012 rape, murder of young girl not competent to stand trial

Posted at 7:31 PM, Jun 30, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-30 21:31:39-04

WEST JORDAN, Utah - A man accused of raping and murdering a little girl nearly four years ago is still not competent to stand trial.

Terry Lee Black appeared in court Thursday in connection with the death of Sierra Newbold, a 6-year-old girl who was murdered in 2012.

Attorneys for the prosecution and defense were on the same page, with both sides agreeing with a determination that Black is not competent enough for trial. There is no timetable for when he might be declared competent.

Police say Black abducted Sierra from her West Jordan home on June 26, 2012. She was raped and strangled and left in a nearby canal.

Black has maintained his innocence since the beginning.

The next step in the process will be medical personnel deciding whether or not Black needs to be on medication.

Sierra's family declined to speak with the news, but the group Bikers Against Child Abuse also had a presence in the courtroom. They said they are demanding justice.

"He’s done some incredibly terrible things, he needs a fair trial, so when he is convicted he goes away for the rest of his life or whatever else they have in store for him, but he needs to be put away,” said a BACA member who goes by “Teddy Bear.”

Black is scheduled to appear in court next in October. By that time it’s likely a determination about the need for medication will have been made.