A Baltimore man charged with murder for allegedly stabbing a 29-year-old man has been found competent to stand trial during a mental health court hearing on June 29 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gale E. Rasin.
Jamal Smith, 42, is charged with first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon with intent to injure in connection to the death of an unknown adult man on the evening of Jan. 27 on the 1500 block of East 28th Street.
According to CBS Baltimore, police found Smith when reporting to the scene, finding a trail of blood that led to a shed behind a nearby house. Smith was then forcibly arrested.
Judge Rasin found Smith to be competent based on an evaluation from the Maryland Department of Health. However, Smith’s defense attorney, Craig Kadish, is considering filing a not criminally responsible (NCR) plea on behalf of his client.
Judge Rasin said that if the plea is not entered, then Smith will be set to begin trial at a later date that has not been decided yet.
Smith’s next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 30.
