Seven Hills murder suspect Frank Dienes accepts ruling of competency

CLEVELAND - The defense legal team will not hire an independent doctor to determine if Frank Dienes of Seven Hills is competent to stand trial for the murder of Joseph Kopp.

Dienes appeared in Judge John J. Russo’s courtroom in Cleveland for a pretrial hearing Wednesday morning. Dienes is accused of shooting Joseph Kopp and burying him in a shallow grave in the backyard. Kopp lived in the Dienes' home on Oakwood Drive.

Wednesday's hearing was scheduled to ask Judge Russo to allow for an independent doctor to determine Frank Dienes' competency to stand trial. A Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare doctor, appointed by the court, has already found Dienes competent to stand trial.

Defense attorney Eric Nemecek said that after talking with Dienes and his family, there will be no challenge to the competency ruling by Northcoast Behavioral Healthcare.

Judge Russo set September 21 as the date that any plea agreement in the case should be completed. If there is no resolution to the case by that date, both legal teams should expect the case to go to trial. 

Frank Dienes'  trial date is set for November 14.