FRESNO (KMJ) — Proceedings are now underway to establish the mental status of the alleged Downtown Fresno shooter.
Kori Ali Muhammad’s competency trial started inside Fresno County Superior Court Monday morning. Muhammad arrived shortly after 10am dressed in a gray shirt and tie, with four deputies surrounding him.
It comes after two court appointed doctors established Muhammad was not mentally fit to answer to the series of felonies he has been charged with. That clashed with the opinion held by Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, whose expert stated that he is able to face the criminal charges and assist in his own defense.
“Let black people go with reparations or the natural disasters will increase,” Muhammad shouted to those inside Department 72. The comments match those shouted during the previous hearing (click here to read more).
The outburst resulted in an immediate response from Judge Jonathan B. Conklin, who reminded Muhammad that further comments like that could get him thrown out of the courtroom. The defendant was advised him to speak through his attorney.
Richard Beshwaite explained that his client was hearing voices and could not control his own words.
The hearing began, and both the defense and the prosecution agreed to waive a jury for the mental competency trial. It was decided that they will reconvene Wednesday January 10th, when first witness will be called.
“Watch the weather,” shouted Muhammad as he left the room.
Outside the courtroom, his attorney said that the hearing is focused his client’s mental status.
“If he’s found incompetent, he would then be sent to most likely Atascadero State Hospital for a few months,” explained Richard Beshwaite.
“He would be then provided a regiment of treatment that is appropriate under the circumstances, until he is restored and he comes back.
“I think frankly that would help us move through the proceedings much more swiftly without delays of him having problems and breakdowns.”
If this trial establishes that Kori Ali Muhammad is mentally competent, then the criminal proceedings will resume. The suspect is facing a total of four murder charges, four attempted murder charges, and two other felonies, relating to the pair of incidents that took place in April 2017.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
