Criminal proceedings were suspended Oct. 7 for Odie James Miller Jr., who is suspected of stabbing a biotech executive near the Westfield UTC after his attorney told a judge she doubted he was mentally competent.
Deputy District Attorney Geoff Allard said Oct. 10 that the San Diego Superior Court judge was obligated to order mental health testing for Miller, 21, since his attorney didn’t think he could understand court proceedings or help in his own defense.
Miller remains in jail, and another judge will read psychiatric reports about him prior to a Dec. 3 hearing. If the judge finds he is not mentally competent to stand trial, he would be committed to a state mental hospital and would likely be given medication. He would return for trial if doctors believe he has regained his competency.
Miller is accused of repeatedly stabbing the 44-year-old executive, referred to in court records as Brian M., on August 6 in the vicinity of Renaissance Avenue and Towne Centre Drive. The attack occurred at random and without motive.
Miller’s father, Odie Miller Sr., has told several television news stations he tried to warn police and the courts about his son having stopped taking his medication. Miller Jr. is on probation for attacking his father with a knife in an earlier case. – Neal Putnam