DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz postponed a murder defendant’s arraignment after deeming him mentally incompetent to stand trial on Aug. 1. A defendant cannot stand trial unless he understands the charges against and can work with his lawyer in crafting a defense. Behavioral experts are often able to restore a defendant’s competence so the trial can proceed.
Christopher Holness, 32, is charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of his grandmother, 83-year-old Sandra Mundle, which occurred on Jan. 17 on the 1300 block of Missouri Avenue, NW.
According to court documents, Holness and Mundle were both in the apartment when officers arrived at the scene. Mundle was reported to have sustained multiple injuries, including 13 stab wounds to the chest, lacerations to her right arm, and bruising around her eyes.
During Holness’ mental observation hearing, Judge Kravitz told the parties he had reviewed the report issued by the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) on July 31, which stated that Holness was mentally incompetent to stand trial.
Neither the prosecutor nor Holness’ defense attorney, Kevin O’Sullivan, objected to DBH’s finding.
Judge Kravitz agreed with the findings in the DBH report and deemed Holness mentally incompetent to stand trial. Holness was scheduled to be arraigned the same day, but Judge Kravitz decided to delay his arraignment until he was found to be competent to stand trial. He ordered Holness to continue his competency restoration services at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Oct. 10.
