Murder of Iryna Zarutska in the USA: Accused declared incompetent and sent for compulsory treatment
Kyiv • UNN
Decarlos Brown, accused of the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, has been declared incompetent. The court ordered treatment to restore his mental state.
In the US, a man accused of the fatal stabbing of Ukrainian Iryna Zarutska on a commuter train in Charlotte in August has been found incompetent to stand trial in federal court at this time. This was reported on Tuesday by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina, UNN reports with reference to The Guardian.
Details
35-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr. is accused of the murder of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Zarutska on a light rail train in Charlotte. The case drew national attention following the release of surveillance footage capturing the brutal attack.
On Tuesday morning, Brown appeared in federal court for a competency hearing, and during the brief session, it was determined that he is "incompetent to stand trial at this time," according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
"However, the judge found the prognosis for Brown's competency to be favorable and ordered that he be committed for treatment," the statement said. "Mr. Brown will remain in federal custody during his treatment and throughout the duration of the legal proceedings."
The prosecutor's office added that the ruling in Brown's case pertains solely to the constitutional definition of competency, which refers to his ability to understand the proceedings and assist in his own defense. "This has nothing to do with the facts of the case or the stabbing that occurred on the Charlotte light rail," the U.S. Attorney's Office added.
Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, stated: "This case weighs on us every day, and our primary concern is achieving justice for Iryna Zarutska and her family. This is a step in the process of ensuring we have a solid case capable of withstanding an appeal."
Additionally
In September, Brown was indicted on one federal count of committing an act causing death on a public transportation system—a crime that, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, carries a penalty of life imprisonment or the death penalty.
He also faces state charges of first-degree murder in connection with the killing of Zarutska on August 22, 2024. In April, Brown was found incompetent to stand trial on the state murder charges on similar grounds to Tuesday's ruling.
According to North Carolina television station WRAL, the federal judge at Tuesday's hearing ordered Brown to be hospitalized for up to four months so that medical professionals can evaluate his condition and determine if treatment can restore his competency to proceed with the case.
WRAL reported that another hearing will be held to assess his mental fitness to stand trial following his discharge from the hospital.
After Tuesday's hearing, WRAL reported that Ferguson told a reporter he is very hopeful that Brown's competency will be restored. "The doctor who examined him today before his competency hearing found that the prognosis for restoration is very good, so I'm relying on the doctors," he said. "I think the prognosis is good, and we will see him at trial."
Brown has a documented history of prior arrests, other legal issues, and mental health problems. His attorneys argued in May that Brown "suffers from a serious mental illness and impairments" and stated that "experts from the (Department of Justice and the federal Bureau of Prisons) have determined that Mr. Brown's mental illness and impairments render him currently incompetent to participate in a federal criminal case."