The California Supreme Court on Monday overturned the death penalty for a man who was allowed to act as his own lawyer after a court-appointed expert found him too disabled to even stand trial.
, overturning death sentences on occasion. But the trial court’s failure to hold a hearing on Wycoff’s mental capacity — not to mention allowing him to act as his own lawyer — clearly violated the law, the justices found.California judges are required to hold a hearing on a defendant’s mental capacity if a judge has a reasonable doubt, based on substantial evidence, of a defendant’s competency to stand trial.
Wycoff, a truck driver who lived in Sacramento County, said he killed his sister and brother-in-law because they were “evil” and failing their two children. Wycoff hoped to adopt the children after killing their parents.“Welcome to my birthday party,” Wycoff told the court. “Is everyone having fun? Is everyone having a good time?”Hundreds of death penalty sentences in California could be overturned, depending on how the state Supreme Court rules on arguments it heard Wednesday.
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