Attorney for ex-student charged in California stabbing deaths says he’s not mentally fit for trial
The previous pupil charged with homicide in the stabbing deaths of two individuals and tried homicide of a 3rd close to a Northern California college has not showered in the practically three months he’s been in jail, goes days with out consuming and believes he’ll return to courses, his lawyer stated Tuesday.
The remarks by Dan Hutchinson, Yolo County public defender, got here throughout a continuing to find out whether or not Carlos Dominguez is mentally competent to take part in a prison trial over the stabbings that rocked the College of California, Davis, campus and surrounding neighborhood.
Hutchinson stated he’ll current proof exhibiting that Dominguez began exhibiting outward indicators of schizophrenia towards the tip of his freshman yr. Prosecutors stated Dominguez is “toying with the system” and may face a prison trial.
Jurors will finally resolve whether or not he’s fit for trial. To be discovered mentally unfit, the protection should present that Dominguez can not at present perceive courtroom proceedings, help his lawyer in his protection and perceive his personal standing in the prison continuing. If jurors discover that Dominguez is not competent, he will likely be evaluated for therapy at a state psychological well being hospital as an alternative of continuing with a prison trial.
Dominguez had been a third-year pupil on the College of California, Davis, majoring in organic sciences till April 25, when he was expelled. A number of days later, prosecutors say he started finishing up three stabbings on or close to the campus. He’s charged in the deaths of a 50-year-old homeless man effectively beloved in the neighborhood and a 20-year-old UC Davis pupil. A homeless lady attacked in her tent survived.
He was arrested on Might 4, every week after the primary physique was discovered, close to the placement of the second assault.
Hutchinson stated in courtroom that Dominguez had failed all of his winter time period courses this yr.
“He sits there every day in his empty cell, unclothed, unmedicated, untreated for his psychological sickness,” he stated of Dominguez, who’s noticed each quarter-hour as a result of he’s on suicide watch. “He has not showered a single time and if he ever has brushed his enamel no one seems to have seen that.”
However Frits van der Hoek, Yolo County deputy district lawyer, instructed jurors that his staff will current proof exhibiting that the previous pupil is deliberately performing unfit for trial. He stated the court-appointed knowledgeable who declared Dominguez incompetent for trial did not query him rigorously sufficient.
As in earlier appearances, Dominguez was in courtroom sporting a inexperienced security vest with lengthy hair hanging in his face. Beforehand he has spoken out loud in courtroom to say he was responsible and needed to apologize and that he did not need an lawyer.
Hutchinson referred to as Dominguez’s former girlfriend, Caley Gallardo, to testify. Gallardo, who will likely be a senior at UC Davis in the autumn, stated they met freshman yr and bonded over their instructional drives and closeness to household.
She broke up with him in March or April 2022 as he modified from a reserved but wholesome and engaged pupil into somebody who stopped consuming and caring about his grooming. She tried to speak to him about attainable psychological sickness, however he was not receptive to the thought, she stated.
Hutchinson additionally deliberate to name Dominguez’s former roommates and a previous co-worker at Jack in the Field to testify about his conduct.
