ALLISON - Defense attorneys for the Parkersburg man accused of killing teacher and coach Ed Thomas in June have filed court papers indicating he is not competent to stand trial.

The application to determine competency was filed Tuesday by Susan R. Flander, of the Iowa Public Defender's office, Mason City division.

In the court papers, she said that Becker, 24, is suffering from a mental disorder that prevents him from appreciating the charge, understanding the proceedings or assisting effectively in his defense.

She said a psychological evaluation by Dr. Dan Rogers has been completed, and that he has told defense attorneys that he believes Becker is not competent to stand trial at this time, the application states.

Becker is accused of killing Ed Thomas, a teacher and football coach of Aplinton-Parkersburg High School. Authorities said Becker walked in to the school's makeshift weight room in a building next to the high school on June 24 and shot Thomas multiple times.

Thomas was a well known figure in the community for his efforts with the football team - he has coached four players now playing the NFL - and his work to rebuild Parkersburg after the May 2008 tornado devasted the community.

Becker was arrested the same day as the killing and has been held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail in Mason City awaiting trial.

Flander states in the motion that the following are the specific facts showing Becker's mental disorder:

- He suffers from auditory and visual hallucinations

- He is labile (unstable, unsteady and not fixed)

- He has difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy

- His medication makes it difficult for him to track extended conversations

- He has been committed in the past and was hospitalized in the several days prior to the incident that led to the charges in the case.

- He has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, mood swings, agitation, irritability and psychotic symptoms.

- He has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, rule out bipolar disorder with psychotic symptoms.

Flander is asking that the court suspend any further proceedings in the case and determine if probably cause exists to sustain the allegations.

Bob Brammer, spokesman for the Iowa Attorney General's Office which is prosecuting the case, said prosecutors will be responding to the application as soon as possible. "We expect to ask the court to authorize a separate psychological evaluation. If the court finds probably cause, the court ordinarily would set a competency hearing in the near future to determine if the defendant is competent to stand trial."