Murder Charges Dropped Against Durant Man

Saturday, May 20th 2006, 12:37 pm

By: News On 6

DURANT, Okla. (AP) _ Prosecutors are dropping a first-degree murder charge against a Durant man who has been held in a mental facility since he was accused 10 years ago of shooting and dismembering his father.

Forty-year-old Anthony Lynn Armstrong has been considered incompetent to stand trial since the July 1996 shooting death of Leonard Armstrong.

A 2005 U-S Supreme Court decision requires those held as incompetent for trial be reviewed within a reasonable time. Oklahoma lawmakers put the limit at two years.

Bryan County District Attorney Emily Redman says Armstrong still is considered dangerous and remain locked up.