BESSEMER CITY, N.C. — There’s a new deadline to push a nearly two-year-old case forward. Roger Self is accused of plowing into a Gaston County restaurant, killing two of his own family members.
This case will hinge on Roger Self’s mental state, but some experts who have met with him still have not released their findings. It is essential testimony if Roger Self’s attorney can show that his client was dealing with serious mental health issues and that is the reason why he drove into the restaurant.
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It could help Roger Self avoid a conviction for murder, so prosecutors want to be ready to counteract.
Most of Roger Self’s family has forgiven him for the fatal incident that took the life of his daughter Katelyn Self and daughter-in-law Amanda Self. He even slowed on his way out of court Monday to talk to his family.
Amanda Self’s father, Tommy George, said he felt that moment was unfair to his daughter.
“She doesn’t get to say ‘I love you’ no more,” George said.
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In May 2018, investigators said Roger Self’s family members became concerned about his state of mind. They all went out to Sunday dinner in Bessemer City after attending church together.
Roger Self got up from the table, went to his car and drove it into the restaurant. He crashed into the table where his family was sitting, killing two people and injuring three more, including his wife, who was critically hurt.
Roger Self’s wife was in court Monday and greeted him while Amanda Self’s family sat on the other side, wearing a button with Amanda’s face on it.
If Roger Self’s attorney can show that he was not in control of his actions that day, then he may be able to convince a jury that Roger Self, who cried during his arraignment last year, didn’t know what he was doing and can’t be guilty of murder.
Prosecutors said the trial starts in six months and they haven’t seen the defense’s list of expert witnesses or the expert’s examination.
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“We have the right to review their reports before they get up on the stand,” District Attorney Locke Bell said.
“We don’t want to be in a position where come the end of July, we are being handed actual witness reports to seek a second opinion as needed,” prosecutor Debbie Gulledge said.
Defense attorney Rick Beam said he has been tied up in other murder trials and has not had time to arrange one expert’s meeting with Roger Self.
“We will get it for them as fast as I possibly can,” Beam said. “He is still speaking with Mr. Self to come up with a final review.”
The defense was given until late April to get the list and review to prosecutors. It was a date that both sides agreed to and the trial is set to start in August.
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