A Baltimore man charged in the death of his father appeared before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gale E. Rasin on Nov 19 to review whether his is mentally competent to stand trial, meaning he understands the charges and can help his lawyer.
Ruben Jackson Jr., 34, is charged with murder and firearm use in a felony violent crime in connection to the death of 60- year-old Ruben Jackson, Sr., at a residence on the 5800 block of Halwyn Avenue on April 12, 2019.
Jackson was convicted of second-degree murder in February 2020 and sentenced two years later to 25 years in prison. That conviction was reversed by the Appellate Court of Maryland on Aug. 17, 2023, and the case was remanded for a new trial. Jackson had been held without bail since the remand.
The incident reportedly stemmed from a family dispute over a bed railing Jackson’s father intended to install in Jackson’s room. Jackson initially denied involvement in his father’s death, but later claimed he acted in self-defense, emphasizing a long-term history of abuse at his father’s hands that included both physical and emotional threats.
Jackson claimed his father threatened to kill him the day of the incident, producing a revolver and saying he could “do it with my bare hands.” He then began choking Jackson, who said he was able to reach his father’s gun and discharge it, killing him.
During the hearing, Judge Rasin stated that Jackson remains mentally incompetent and dangerous to himself and others. A restoration review was scheduled for May 20 of next year.
