US judge finds man accused of killing woman on Charlotte train incompetent to stand trial
Decarlos Brown Jr to stay in custody while receiving treatment for remainder of case over Iryna Zarutska’s death
TL;DR
- Decarlos Brown Jr. has been found incompetent to stand trial for the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte commuter train.
- A judge determined Brown's prognosis for regaining competency is good and ordered he receive treatment.
- Brown will remain in federal custody for treatment and for the duration of his case.
- The finding of incompetence relates to his ability to understand proceedings and assist in his defense, not the facts of the case.
- Brown faces federal and state charges, including first-degree murder.
- He was previously deemed incapable of proceeding to trial on the state murder charge on similar grounds.
- Brown's attorneys have argued he suffers from serious mental illness and impairments that make him incapable of proceeding in his federal criminal case.
- Brown wrote a letter to the court claiming a "body emergency" and misdiagnosis of schizophrenia.