Homicide Defendant Found Mentally Competent To Stand Trial

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On Sept. 22, DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe found a homicide defendant mentally competent to stand trial based on a report from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH).

Julius Worthy, 39, is charged with one count of second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the murder of 36-year-old Orlando Galloway on April 2 on the 200 block of 14th Street, SE.

The DBH’s report indicates that Worthy does not have any diagnosed mental illness and is aware of the facts of his case.

However, Worthy’s defense attorney, Christen Phillips, said the defense will be challenging this finding with their own expert. Phillips references that the competency report states Worthy does have psychotic symptoms and delusional thoughts.

The doctor who delivered the competency report responded by stating there is no acuity that would warrant specialized treatment.

Phillips requests that Worthy be allowed to stay at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric institution, until the defense can gather a report from their expert challenging the competency finding.

Judge O’Keefe ordered that he be moved to DC Jail because he was found competent based on the DBH report and St. Elizabeth’s has a limited number of beds.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 13.

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