Competency exam for man accused of setting woman on fire in Waukesha
WAUKESHA, Wis. - A Las Vegas man accused of setting a woman on fire in Waukesha before hitting his grandfather with a vehicle and setting his grandfather's property on fire again refused to appear in court Wednesday, Sept. 16.
During the court hearing for Joel Murn, 39, his attorney requested a competency examination "based on his interactions with the defendant," online court records showed. A competency examination was ordered by the court, with a review hearing scheduled for Oct. 21.
Murn was not physically in court for his initial appearance on Sept. 4 because he refused. He faces six felony charges, including attempted first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, two counts of arson of property other than a building and one count of arson of a building without owner's consent.
Amber Fuller, 30, identified by family as the victim of a Waukesha attack in which she was set on fire while walking her dogs
Amber Fuller was walking her dogs in Waukesha on Sept. 2 when a man prosecutors say was Murn started running at her, throwing some type of accelerant on her back. In her attempt to run away, she fell -- and he pulled out a lighter to her arm.
"You hear of things like this happening, but you never think that it can ever be you," Fuller told FOX6 News. "I didn't really imagine that he would follow through with lighting me on fire."
Detectives believe Murn thought Fuller was a cousin he intended to kill.
"It made me feel even worse that he was planning on doing this to a family member," said Fuller.
Woman set on fire while walking dogs in Waukesha
Fuller suffered second- and third-degree burns on her back, right arm and part of her stomach.
"The flames weren't going out with rolling on the ground," said Fuller.
A GoFundMe.com account has raised nearly $50,000 for the massage therapist's medical bills and lost wages.
Prosecutors say Murn's family informed police he suffers from mental health issues due to a traumatic brain injury. Family members had only heard from him only recently in letters that started to sound angry, they indicated.
Murn is also accused of going to his grandparents' house and hitting his grandfather with his vehicle after lighting his grandfather's vehicles and shed on fire.
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Amber Fuller was walking her dogs when a man threw some type of accelerant on her back.
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