Man accused of killing actor James Handy found mentally incompetent for prosecution

The antheral accused of slaying seasoned “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Jumanji” histrion James Handy earlier this period is not mentally competent to look transgression tribunal prosecution, a Los Angeles justice ruled Monday.

During a competency hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maria Cavalluzzi ordered that Michael Gledhill, 44, is incapable to recognize the execution lawsuit against him and cannot rationally assistance his lawyer successful his ain defense, the Associated Press reported.

Monday’s ruling is not a “determination of guilt oregon innocence,” Gledhill’s defence squad said successful a connection shared with The Times connected Tuesday. Los Angeles County Deputy Public Defenders Donna Tryfman and Robert Krauss said successful the connection that Gledhill’s “treatment and restoration efforts” volition instrumentality precedence earlier transgression tribunal proceedings.

“While the allegations successful this substance stay highly serious, the ineligible process indispensable proceed successful a mode that is some conscionable and accordant with law protections,” the connection said. “Nothing astir the court’s uncovering regarding competency diminishes the seriousness of the nonaccomplishment oregon the symptom experienced by those who knew and loved Mr. Handy.”

Police arrested Gledhill connected June 3 aft West Valley country patrol officers responded to an exigency telephone successful a residential vicinity of Tarzana. The 911 caller stated, “I americium the lad of man. I conscionable killed the antheral of sin.” Upon arrival, constabulary recovered Handy, 81, successful the beforehand gait of the Erwin Street home, unconscious and suffering from a stab coiled to his chest.

Paramedics took the histrion to an country infirmary wherever helium was pronounced dead, officials said.

Police said successful a property merchandise that Gledhill “flagged down adjacent responding officers” and identified himself arsenic the fishy successful the fatal stabbing. Police said Gledhill lives with his mother, Handy’s girlfriend, astatine the Tarzana home.

Gledhill was arrested and transported to Van Nuys Jail, wherever helium was booked connected suspicion of murder. His bail was acceptable astatine $2 million.

Gledhill has not entered a plea nor appeared successful court. During his arraignment June 5, a justice halted tribunal proceedings and directed Gledhill’s lawsuit to a tribunal that specializes successful intelligence wellness evaluations.

The Associated Press besides reported that during Monday’s hearing, Cavalluzzi recovered that Gledhill is incapable to marque due medicine decisions and signed an bid noting helium could beryllium involuntarily medicated for 1 year, citing a psychiatrist’s determination that due drugs could hugely assistance his intelligence health.

A proceeding to find Gledhill’s semipermanent placement is acceptable for July 14. The lawsuit volition proceed to proceedings if Gledhill is aboriginal recovered to beryllium competent.

Times unit writer Emily St. Martin and the Associated Press contributed to this report.