Death row inmate who wants no further appeals may get exam

KINGMAN, Ariz. (AP) - A mental competency exam may be conducted for a 44-year-old Arizona death row inmate who wants no further appeals in his case stemming from the 2006 beating death of his 14-year-old niece in Kingman.

Brad Lee Nelson was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death for the 2006 killing of Amber Leann Graff. The Arizona Supreme Court in 2012 decided an automatic appeal by upholding Nelson's conviction and sentence.

Nelson is now asking to represent himself, not have any further appeals and accept his death sentence.

Judge Richard Weiss of Mohave County Superior court last week ordered prosecution and defense attorneys to file arguments by Feb. 20 on whether Nelson must have a mental health exam.

The development was first reported by the Mohave Valley Daily News (http://goo.gl/rYcKgf ).