VISTA — A judge has ruled that Malcolm Pope is mentally incompetent to stand trial for the alleged murder of his mother at her Vista home in the spring.
The determination was made in San Diego County Superior Court on August 28. The finding of mental incompetence to stand trial means the person is unable to understand the nature of the criminal proceedings and/or unable to assist counsel in the conduct of a defense in a rational manner.
Defendants found mentally incompetent are usually committed to a state mental hospital or other facility for psychiatric treatment to restore competency, at which point criminal proceedings will resume. Next steps in Pope’s case will be discussed at a Sept. 17 hearing…