Man accused of fatally shooting officer has until December 2020 to make insanity defense

Ashley White | Lafayette Daily Advertiser

The Lafayette man accused of fatally shooting a Lafayette Police officer and wounding three others will have an extra 11 months to decide whether he wants to present an insanity defense.

Judge Julian Edwards III, who presides over the 15th Judicial District, granted a request from Ian Howard's attorneys asking for more time. Howard and his attorneys now have until Dec. 2, 2020, to make a decision, according to court records filed last week.

"Despite diligent efforts, the defense, including defense experts, have additional work to complete before making a determination whether to pursue an insanity defense at trial in this case," wrote Stephen Singer and Elliott Brown, Howard's attorneys.

The deadline for Howard and his attorneys to tell the court whether they plan to present an insanity defense has been extended before. Most recently, the deadline was Jan. 2.

Howard is accused of shooting and injuring Lafayette Officer Logan Signater, Craig Leopaul and Ameen Alfata in a Moss Street convenience store in 2017. He is facing three attempted first-degree murder charges.

A trial date was scheduled for Jan. 21, but it has since been delayed. A new trial date has not yet been set.

The 30-year-old also is facing a first-degree murder charge, accused of killing police Cpl. Michael Middlebrook. The shooting occurred Oct. 1, 2017, at the Big Boy Discount Zone in north Lafayette. A trial date has not been set in that capital case.

Howard's trial was recently delayed by a request to have it moved outside of Lafayette Parish. Singer and Brown argue the change should be allowed because of "the prejudice existing in the public mind makes it impossible for Mr. Howard to receive a fair and impartial trial in Lafayette Parish."

The attorneys cite the media coverage, both locally and nationally, as being extensive in the days, weeks, and months following the shooting. They noted local media appears at almost every court hearing and covers memorials and other events honoring Middlebrook. Subpoenas have been filed with local media demanding their viewership numbers related to coverage of Howard's case.

Beyond coverage, the filing argues there is an immense outpouring from the community for Middlebrook and his family and "there is a strong bond between the Lafayette parish citizens and the law enforcement community."

Howard is slated to appear in court Jan. 21. At that hearing, Edwards will likely hear arguments about the venue change, suppressing evidence and statements gathered by authorities, prosecutors' request for a non-unanimous jury and extensions to other motions.

Contact Ashley White at adwhite@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter @AshleyyDi.