Unfortunately, there are many individuals across the United States who are suffering from serious mental illnesses and are unable to receive adequate treatment. In some instances, a serious mental illness may cause an individual to act in such a way that they have little to no control over. The case of a 19-year-old Texas man facing a felony charge has been in limbo for the past two years as his mental competency has been thoroughly investigated.
Roughly two years ago, a 911 operator received a call from the then 17-year-old boy who reported that his mother and sister were dead. While on the phone with 911, he allegedly admitted to killing both of them. Although he was indicted on murder charges in 2012, he has yet to stand trial.
The defense recently filed a motion to have a jury decide once and for all if the man is even competent to stand trial at all. Reportedly, a forensic psychologist thoroughly examined the defendant and determined that he is not competent enough to be able to stand trial for his charges. In addition, defense counsel says that new evidence indicates the defendant was insane when he supposedly killed his family members.
Whether an individual is actually competent to stand trial to face a felony charge can have a significant impact on the case and any potential outcomes. Some individuals in Texas who are determined to be incompetent may be able to avoid jail time by instead being admitted to a mental health treatment facility. If it appears that an accused individual is not competent to actually face criminal charges in court, filing for a motion to prove this claim can be of critical importance.
Source: star-telegram.com, “Competency in question for teen accused of killing mom, sister”, Deanna Boyd, Oct. 10, 2014
