Manhattan: Teen found innocent in soldier’s slaying

A Manhattan teen was acquitted in the stabbing death of a Fort Riley soldier after jurors ruled the killing was self-defense.

Skylor Alexander, 18, was originally charged with first-degree murder in the death of Pfc. Randall S. Lindsey, 21, of Fort Riley, B Company, 79th Engineering Battalion, last June in the city’s Aggieville entertainment district. The charges were reduced to second-degree murder last week.

Several witnesses testified that the stabbing stemmed from a derogatory name that a friend of Lindsey’s had yelled at Alexander and his companions as they drove through Aggieville. The soldiers allegedly planned to pick a fight that night.

Prosecutors said Alexander armed himself with a knife and asked his friend to take him back to Aggieville. He then walked toward the soldiers.

Witnesses said that Lindsey, who also was armed, pushed Alexander. Alexander then stabbed him in the stomach.

Wichita: Homicide suspect found competent to stand trial

One of two brothers charged with the execution-style killings of four people in Wichita is competent to stand trial, Sedgwick County Chief Judge Paul Clark ruled Monday.

At the request of Jonathan Carr’s attorneys, two mental health experts evaluated Carr. The findings of those reports are under court seal, but Clark ruled that Carr is competent to stand trial.

Carr and his brother, Reginald, are charged with abducting five people from an east Wichita home in December 2000, and later shooting them in a field. One of the victims survived but Aaron Sander, 29, Heather Muller, 25, Brad Heyka, 27, and Jason Befort, 26, died.

Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty.

Frankfort: Three killed in accident

Three people were killed and two others injured when a pickup truck crossed the center line on Kansas Highway 99 and hit a car, authorities said.

The Kansas Highway Patrol said both vehicles went off opposite sides of the highway around noon Sunday. The car rolled before coming to a rest on its top.

The victims were identified as the truck’s driver, Joshua Middleton, 24, and two occupants of the car  Ronald Bramhall, 47, and Anna Jane Tilley, whose age was not available. All three victims lived in Frankfort, north of Manhattan.

The injured victims were airlifted to a Topeka hospital. One of the victims was upgraded to fair condition Monday, but the hospital would not release the condition of the second victim at the family’s request.