Murder Defendant Found Incompetent to Stand Trial

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A DC Superior Court judge found a murder defendant incompetent to stand trial.

Anna Payne, 31, is charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to allegedly shooting her mother, Marilyn Payne, 69, on July 26 on the 1600 block of Webster Street, NE.

A report from the Department of Behavioral Health found Payne incompetent to stand trial and recommended she be transfered to St. Elizabeths Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution, for treatment.

During a Aug 3 hearing, Judge Robert Okun, in accordance with the report, found Payne mentally incompetent to stand trial, with no objection from parties.

According to court documents, Payne has had mental health issues in the past, resulting in multiple stays at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington.

She was not present for the hearing.

Judge Okun scheduled a mental health status hearing for Sept 8.

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