A murder suspect that was deemed unfit for trial in April, was back in court Friday — and was once again deemed incompetent.
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Denise Ann Gillis, 48, of Castaic, was booked on a murder charge in June 2014, when she was arrested near her family’s home shortly after her father, James Gillis, was found stabbed to death.
James Gillis’ death was reported Sept. 5 at 9:15 a.m. on the 31900 block of Emerald Lane, in a small residential community called Stonegate.
Gillis was deemed not mentally competent for trial in Department 95 of Los Angeles County Superior Court on April 24, according to Ricardo Santiago, spokesman for the District Attorney’s Office.
Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.According to Penal Code 1367(a): A person cannot be tried or adjudged to punishment while such person is mentally incompetent. A defendant is mentally incompetent for purposes of this chapter if, as a result of mental disorder or developmental disability, the defendant is unable to understand the nature of the criminal proceedings or to assist counsel in the conduct of a defense in a rational manner.
The ruling did not mean the suspect wouldn’t face trial at some point, Santiago said.
On Friday May 15, Gillis’ attorney declared a doubt about her competency once again, and the judge suspended criminal proceedings, said Julie Kramer of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, who is prosecuting the case.
Gillis is set to appear back in court on June 5 in San Fernando, to check in with the status of her competency, Kramer said.