Attorney to File Not Criminally Responsible Motion after Client Found Competent to Stand Trial

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After being deemed competent to stand trial, a Baltimore man charged with first-degree murder will undergo a not criminally responsible (NCR) evaluation as requested by his attorney on Feb. 1.

In mental health court before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gale E. Rasin, it was reported that defendant Mumwaldi Kearney had been found competent to stand trial by the Department of Health. 

Defense attorney Janet Andersen informed the court that she planned to file an NCR motion later that day. Judge Rasin decided to hold the competency findings sub curia pending the results of the NCR evaluation. Based on those results, an additional competency assessment will be conducted. 

Kearney, 50, is currently held at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center where he will remain until his next court hearing on April 12. 

According to the Maryland Judiciary website, Kearney is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a deadly weapon with intent to injure for an incident that occurred on April 12, 2021.