Accusedmurderer found incompetent to stand trial
A man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend in Mount Clemens a year ago has been found mentally incompetent to stand trial but is expected to regain competency and eventually go on trial.
Dominic Watson, 35, of Clinton Township, was determined to be incompetent in a ruling Monday by Judge Diane Druzinski of Macomb County Circuit Court following a Sept. 10 evidentiary hearing.
Watson is accused of breaking into Reva Kovaleski’s Mount Clemens home shortly before midnight Sept. 22, 2019, and shoot ing Jovon Houston, 26, four times with a shot gun while Houston was lying in bed, according to authorities. Houston died a short time later at a hospital. Watson fled on foot and was captured a short time later.
Watson is facing first- degree murder charges, premeditated murder, felony murder, home invasion, felonious assault and multiple counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. First- degree murder carries an automatic penalty of life without parole.
Watson was found incompetent despite the state Center for Forensic Psychiatry determining he was competent to stand trial. However, clinical psychologist Firoza Van Horn, in a second, independent evaluation secured by the defense attorney, indicated he was not competent.
Druzinski issued a written ruling following a Sept. 10 hearing that featured testimony in court.
Assistant Macomb Prosecutor William Cataldo said he believes the judge was being cautious to ensureWatson is competent when he goes to trial in the relatively near future.
Watson will be housed at the Forensic Center, which Druzinski ordered to provide a report on Watson’s progress in two months.