Child accused in Calif. murder won’t stand trial
Aug 22, 2012, 5:05 AM
SAN DIEGO (AP) – An 11-year-old boy accused of stabbing his playmate to death has been found mentally incompetent and won’t stand trial on murder charges.
A juvenile court judge concluded the boy suffered from mental health problems and developmental issues brought on by fetal alcohol syndrome, U-T San Diego reported Tuesday (
http://bit.ly/QnLQjy). A Sept. 18 hearing has been scheduled to determine which residential treatment facility the boy will be sent.
The boy was 10 when he was charged with murder and felony assault in the Jan. 16 death of a 12-year-old. The victim was a sixth grader when he was fatally stabbed in the suspect’s driveway.
The suspect was popular with other children despite problems with controlling his anger and violent fits.
The Los Angeles Times reports the boy’s defense attorney told the court that the boy is remorseful, and he knows his best friend is gone.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)