"Judge James Stanton entered the incompetence finding Friday and returned Haney to Bridgewater State Hospital, where he will undergo further examination to evaluate his criminal responsibility. Haney will also face additional treatment in an attempt to restore his mental competency so the case may proceed, The Boston Globe reported, noting the process can take years. "There will be continued evaluation and his competency will be reassessed at the end of those evaluation periods," a spokesperson for the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office said via email. "It's difficult to predict the impact on timeline.""
"Keith Halpern, Haney's defense attorney, previously told Boston.com his client is diagnosed with schizophrenia and has struggled with his mental health for most of his life. Though he had been doing well on antipsychotics, a change in medications meant Haney's condition "deteriorated" in the months leading up to the collision, Halpern explained. At the time of the crash, he said, Haney was "delusional" and "had no idea who Mr. Axelrod was." Even during his January arraignment, Haney was "completely delusional" and didn't have "any real understanding" of why he was there, according to Halpern."
William Haney Jr., 42, has been found incompetent to stand trial in the Jan. 3 Back Bay hit-and-run that killed prominent art collector John Axelrod and his dog. Haney previously pleaded not guilty to murder and animal cruelty charges. Judge James Stanton ordered Haney returned to Bridgewater State Hospital for further examination of criminal responsibility and for additional treatment intended to restore competency. The competency restoration process involves ongoing evaluation and periodic reassessment and can take years. Defense attorney Keith Halpern said Haney is diagnosed with schizophrenia and was delusional after a medication change leading up to the collision.
Read at Boston.com
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