Plea date set for hammering death, arson

WINONA, Minn. – A man accused of killing a friend and setting the man’s Winona duplex on fire in March, Steven Edward Miller, 33, was ruled fit to stand trial. Judge Nancy Buytendorp set August 12 for Miller to enter a plea. A psychological evaluation in March had found Miller competent, but his defense attorneys pushed for a second opinion. At the new hearing Miller’s attorney, Steve Bergeson, said without explanation that the situation had changed. Judge Buytendorp did not press for details. At an earlier hearing a jailer at Houston County, where Miller has been held, said that Miller might not cooperate with a second evaluation. At that hearing, with the judge communicating with Miller by teleconference, Miller seemed baffled. The judge: “What’s your date of birth?” Miller: “I don’t know,” The judge: “Do you understand the charges?” Miller: “No, I don’t.” Even so, a forensic psychologist found Miller capable of rationally participating in his defense. Miller was charged in March with second-degree murder and arson at the duplex of David Seaman, 55, in the 100 block of East Sanborn near Winona State University. Seaman had been allowing Miller to stay with him. Seaman was hammered to death.  When arrested, Miller told police he was “high out of my mind” on meth and hallucinatory mushrooms.