PLATTSBURGH "" Glen D. Race has been found competent to stand trial for the murder of Darcy Manor.

He didn't appear in Mooers Town Court Thursday evening, as scheduled, however.

That felony hearing, at Race's request through his attorney, Dan Gaudreau, has been adjourned until Aug. 2 at 7 p.m.

According to Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie, the court-ordered psychological examinations of Race have been filed with the court, indicating his mental state is such that he can be prosecuted for the May 10 shooting death of Manor, a Mooers father of two and Northern Adirondack Central School bus driver.

"It's a step in the right direction," said Alan Cardin of Rouses Point, an uncle of Manor's. "It would be nice if (Race) would just own up to his actions and plead guilty.

"But it's a lot to hope for."

Manor was fixing a water system at a secluded camp on Drown Road in Mooers when he was killed. Race, also indicted for two homicides in the Halifax, Nova Scotia, area, was arrested in Texas on May 15.

He was found carrying the rifle believed to have fired the fatal shot and possessions of Manor, including a credit card. Manor's missing pickup truck was found abandoned in the Houston area.

Joel E. Pink, the Halifax attorney who represents Race's family, hadn't seen the reports on the defendant's mental status, but said the findings didn't surprise him.

"Quite often in cases like this we have a situation where the person is fit to stand trial, which is a very, very low test," he said.

"(But) there is a difference between fitness to stand trial and his mental state at the time the alleged crime was committed."

Race is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

As far as Pink knew, Race had not yet been examined by experts in regard to creating an insanity defense.

"We're relying strictly at this stage on the defense counsel in Plattsburgh," he said.

Gaudreau did not return a call from the Press-Republican on Thursday morning.