Murder Defendant Found Incompetent to Stand Trial Silent During Hearing

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Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gale E. Rasin upheld a prior decision that a murder defendant was incompetent to stand trial in a 2020 murder on Oct. 26.

Defendant Kenard Kuniken remained silent on Wednesday during his mental health hearing before Judge Rasin as his attorney Ana Hernandez and prosecutors discussed the results of his latest medical reports.

Medical reports from a doctor at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center sent to the judge said the defendant refused to participate in his evaluation, but based on his records and current presentation they believed Kuniken remained a danger to himself and others.

According to CBS Baltimore, in 2020 Kuniken was charged with first-degree murder and having a deadly weapon with the intent to injure in connection to the stabbing death of his 51-year-old mother Tracey Phelps on the 6400 block of Walther Avenue. In October 2021, Kenard Kuniken was found incompetent to stand trial, according to the Maryland Judiciary website.

Judge Rasin said that her office will look into setting up an annual review of the defendant.