"Three psychiatric clinicians examined Irving and found that he is not mentally fit to stand trial. The public defender, Sydney Levin, added that a third clinician—one hired by her office—came to the same conclusion. However, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Jason Chin held off on making a ruling Friday, after Assistant District Attorney Danielle London said she planned to hire her own clinician to evaluate Irving."
"If Chin finds Irving incompetent to stand trial, the case will remain paused while Irving is sent to a state hospital for treatment, with the goal of restoring his ability to understand court proceedings and aid in his own defense."
"The issue of mental competency is a completely separate legal matter from a defendant's mental state at the time of a killing, meaning it has no bearing on whether or not Irving's attorneys could seek an insanity defense at trial."
Cedric Irving Jr., 27, faces murder charges in the November killing of Laney College Athletic Director John Beam. Three psychiatric clinicians—two court-ordered and one hired by his public defender—concluded Irving is not mentally competent to stand trial. Mental competency determines whether a defendant can understand court proceedings and assist in their defense. Irving remains jailed without bail and has not entered a plea. The case is paused pending evaluation. Judge Jason Chin delayed ruling after the prosecution announced plans to hire its own clinician, a process taking up to six weeks. If found incompetent, Irving will be sent to a state hospital for treatment aimed at restoring competency. Mental competency is legally separate from insanity defense considerations.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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