Lawyer: Murder suspect competent

A Cayuga County Court judge rejected a request Friday to cancel a mental competency hearing for 79-year-old Fulton man charged with murder and driving while intoxicated for allegedly ramming another man's vehicle into oncoming traffic.

Cayuga County Assistant District Attorney Diane Adsit said defense attorney George Hildebrandt sent a letter to Judge Thomas Leone this week asking him to withdraw his order to hold a competency hearing.

In the letter, Adsit said, Hildebrandt indicated that he had met with William Levea and that he believes that Levea is mentally fit enough to proceed with his case.