CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cuyahoga County prosecutors are seeking changes to state law that would allow authorities more time to restore the mental competency of murder defendants awaiting trial.

Senate Bill 295, sponsored by state Sen. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, and Sen. Thomas Patton, R-Strongsville, was spawned amid issues in restoring the competency of a schizophrenic man accused of killing Cleveland police officer Jamieson Ritter last year.

Authorities say De’Lawnte Hardy, 26, killed Ritter days after killing his own grandmother. Hardy has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder and other charges.

Following his arrest, a Cuyahoga County judge ordered him to be evaluated by psychiatric experts before finding he was incompetent to stand trial. Hardy was then ordered to receive treat

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