A year after being charged with murder, Brandon Byrd’s competency remains in question

By D.C. Witness Staff - October 20, 2017
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

Brandon Byrd, 20, charged with killing his father, continues to undergo mental examination hearings. Byrd has been held for mental examinations since Nov. 4, 2016, and has been declared incompetent to stand trial since July 2017.

During a hearing, Byrd told of Byrd’s history of violence, and said his mother, “feared for the safety of [his] younger siblings for his psychotic symptoms.”

The government stressed that the trial needs to be moved along, to make efficient use of everyone’s time. Judge Jose Lopez decided that the defense and government will present their closing summations in writing, and the judge will make his decision with that and the pleadings in mind.

Byrd faces second-degree murder charges for allegedly stabbing his father Otis Byrd, 44. The next court date will be on Jan. 12, 2018.