Judge: Hearing delayed while Barnes undergoes mental evaluations

Juvenile Court Judge Suzanne Bailey has passed a transfer hearing for the 16-year-old suspect in an Oct. 5 killing. The hearing has been delayed until Feb. 3 as Brendan Barnes undergoes competency testing and mental health evaluations.

Barnes was arrested in October as was his 25-year-old cousin Antonio Henry in connection with the beating death of Pastor David Strong.

Strong's body was found decomposing in his home days after police believe he was killed.

Barnes was charged with first-degree murder and especially aggravated burglary. Police say the pair beat and stabbed Strong on Oct. 5 before stealing his car and debit card.

In interviews with the Times Free Press, Henry said the pastor made unwanted sexual advances that prompted he and his cousin to violence.

Police have called the death a robbery gone wrong and have discounted Henry's claims, testifying in court that Henry admitted to previous visits to Strong's home to perform sex acts for money, according to newspaper archives.

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