Weeklong mental competency trial expected

EL CENTRO — A jury trial scheduled for September to determine the mental competency of murder defendant Ioan Laurint is expected to last about a week, counsel indicated on Wednesday.

The pending trial will also include the testimony of three experts on behalf of the defense, and one expert’s testimony on behalf of the county District Attorney’s Office.

Both Laurint’s defense attorney and the DA’s Office also indicated their plans to call multiple lay witnesses to testify as well.

Laurint had appeared briefly at the county Superior Court in El Centro for a review hearing. The civil case’s proceedings have placed his criminal case on hold pending a jury’s determination of Laurint’s mental competency.

In April, Laurint had been found not competent to stand trial for the alleged murder of El Centro-based attorney Ann Marie Zimmermann.

He had undergone an evaluation by two mental health professionals employed by the county Behavioral Health Services after San Diego-based defense attorney Donald Levine raised questions about Laurint’s ability to participate meaningfully in his defense.

The court-appointed mental health experts’ findings prompted the DA’s Office to request an independent mental health evaluation of Laurint, which was granted by the court on May 30.

That independent evaluation had concluded that Laurint is competent to stand trial.

The pending jury trial, which was agreed upon by counsel and is scheduled to start Sept. 25, places the burden of proof on the defense.

“I believe the evidence indicates that the defendant is competent to stand trial, because he understands the nature of the proceedings and is able to communicate,” said county Assistant DA Deborah Owen following Wednesday’s hearing.

By law, criminal defendants found incompetent may have their criminal trials postponed until they regain competency or have the charges dismissed. Those accused of felonies are typically committed to a state mental health facility, while those facing misdemeanor charges often undergo outpatient treatment.

Laurint is accused of fatally stabbing Zimmermann to death on Feb. 17, 2017, at an El Centro motel.