A judge has ruled that the suspect in the death of a man near Great Bend will go to trial in February.

District Judge Ron Svaty ruled Friday that Jeffrey Wade Chapman is competent to stand trial in the death of 25-year-old Damon Galyardt, whose body was found near Great Bend in November 2011. The trial was scheduled to begin Feb. 2.

The trial was delayed in July so Chapman could undergo a competency hearing at Larned State Hospital.

Chapman’s case drew attention last year when he asked permission to have a tattoo of the mirrored image of the word “murder” on his neck covered or removed during his trial. A judge ruled he could wear a turtleneck during the trial.

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Associated Press information from: Great Bend Tribune