The week in review

Most questionable competency: Accused triple-murderer Rashad Riddick, 25, pummels his defense attorney, Joseph Flood, in the face at a mental competency hearing August 1 in Madison, the Culpeper Star-Exponent reports. Riddick is charged with the February 2011 murders of his uncle, James Jackson, 55, Jackson's wife and daughter, Karen Lee Jackson, 53, and Chante Latrice Davis, 26. The hearing on Riddick's competency to stand trial is postponed until September 19.

Worst attack on UVA students: Three men– two of them university students– are attacked around 1am July 27 in the 1300 block of West Main. Arrested early August 2 and charged with two counts of malicious wounding, three counts of assault by a mob, and one count of vandalism, according to the Progress, are Barry Wayne Booth, 22, and Chris Cockrell and Ryan Collins, both 23.

Longest underage drinking bust: After a four-hour standoff in Forest Lakes starting August 4, police arrest seven people for underage drinking out of a crowd of 34.

Latest cat-killing case: Harrisonburg police officer Jonathan Snoddy gets acquitted July 30 of animal cruelty for the November baton-beating death an injured cat that had been hit by a car, according to the Newsplex. Snoddy was convicted of the misdemeanor in March and appealed.

Biggest tempest in a teapot: A thrown-away coffee mug leads to charges of a racially hostile work environment at the National Ground Intelligence Center, Samantha Koon reports in the Progress. Carol Koenig, the mug tosser, who is white, filed suit in September claiming that she was disciplined while the mug-owner, Dorsell Williams, who is black, was not. Koenig names Secretary of the Army John McHugh as the sole defendant, and wants $250,000 in damages.

Most inconvenient crash: An SUV wrecks on Ridge Street early July 25, taking out three other cars and three utility poles and electricity, and closing Ridge between Monticello and Elliott avenues, the Newsplex reports. The driver flees, and CPD files warrants against 31-year-old Marvin Sirrelle Turner of Esmont, who turns himself in August 6.

Most symbolic reparations: On August 5, the 85th anniversary of a Supreme Court decision that legalized forced sterilizations of so-called "undesirables," Democratic Delegate Patrick Hope of Alexandria asks Governor Bob McDonnell to make token payments to those still living who were institutionalized and sterilized by the Commonwealth's eugenics program, according to the Newsplex.

Saddest loss of a local character: Sadun Tor, better known as Duner, founder of the eponymous Ivy eatery, dies suddenly July 23 while traveling in New Jersey.

Worst knot failure: Jonathan M. Sullivan, 20, who died while climbing Raven's Roost on the Blue Ridge Parkway June 15, 2011, fell 80 feet because a non-standard climbing knot failed, the News-Advance reports after obtaining a report from the National Park Service under the Freedom of Information Act. The death was ruled accidental.

Worst loss of a neonatal nurse: Judith Malin Linden, 50, who worked at Martha Jefferson, is identified through DNA as being the woman whose remains were found in a June 25 barn fire near Etlan, the Madison County Eagle reports. Police have not ruled out foul play.

Latest call to close Yancey: Albemarle's Long Range Planning Advisory Committee floats the idea of consolidating the county's three southern elementary schools– Yancey, Red Hill, and Scottsville– because of an anticipated $6 million in repairs needed at Yancey, an  issue last visited in 2009. The Progress reports 100 show up in support of the Esmont school, including supes Chris Dumler and Duane Snow, and School Board member Eric Strucko.

Latest Billy Campbell sighting: The Charlottesville native is spotted in Richmond, where he's starring in a National Geographic film called Killing Lincoln, based on the book by Bill O'Reilly and produced by Tony and Ridley Scott, NBC29 reports.

Newest ex-Eagle: Albemarle Supervisor Chris Dumler is giving up his badge in protest of Boy Scouts of America's exclusion of openly gay Scouts and leaders, Dumler tells Coy Barefoot at WINA.

–updated 4:42pm August 7 with news of Marvin Sirrelle Turner's arrest.