MELBOURNE -- Psychiatrists have found two of three Deaf people accused of murdering a profoundly Deaf man, who fell 12 metres from an apartment balcony, unfit to stand trial due to mental impairment.
Crown prosecutor Sharn Coombes told the Supreme Court on Monday that Georgia Fields, 19, and Jake Fairest, 26, who are on bail, had been assessed and found to be unfit to stand trial. A third man, Warwick Toohey, 37, who appeared via video link from prison, needed further assessment.
Justice Lex Lasry reserved any decision as to whether the trio's trial would proceed until next year.
A trial date had been set down for May 2, but Justice Lasry adjourned the case to February 8, when a directions hearing will be held to get an update on the fitness to plead question for the trio.
Ms Fields, Mr Toohey and Mr Fairest are charged with murdering Robbie Wright, who fell from a balcony outside his Ringwood apartment on January 15. Mr Wright, 36, who also suffered from cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and had an intellectual disability, died in hospital three days later.
Ms Fields is profoundly Deaf and can communicate only by sign language and in writing.
Mr Fairest has severe cognitive and developmental disabilities caused by aggressive chemotherapy treatment to a brain tumour when he was seven. The treatment also caused stunted growth, a weakened spine and a growth hormone deficiency.
Previous court hearings have been told Mr Wright and Mr Toohey lived together but were constantly arguing over household tasks. Both men had allegedly previously "shared" Ms Fields as a girlfriend.
The trio allegedly confronted Mr Wright in his lounge room, restrained him and forced him out on to the balcony and over the hand rail... Read More: http://theage.com.au/victoria/accused-deaf-killers-unfit-to-stand-trial-court-told
Related:
DailyMail - Three Deaf Accused Murderers Were Caught on CCTV Signing Whether to Strangle Their Victim or Throw Him Off a Balcony, Court Told
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