Murder Defendant Ruled Incompetent to Stand Trial for the 3rd Time

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Homicide defendant Mumwaldi Kearney was deemed incompetent to stand trial for the third time during mental health court before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gale E. Rasin on July 27.

Kearney, 49, faces charges of first-degree murder and use of a deadly weapon with the intent to injure in relation to an incident that occurred on April 12, 2021. According to CBS Baltimore, Kearney allegedly stabbed his mother, 68-year-old Shari Smith, inside of their home on the 4400 block of Manorview Road.

Kearney had previously sat before Judge Raisin in July 2021 where an initial competency evaluation was ordered following his incoherence during trial. Kearney returned to mental health court in January, where he was again found to be incompetent to stand trial.

Kearney and his defense attorney Sharon Bogins, a stand-in for Euphus Belu-John, returned to Judge Rasin’s courtroom on Wednesday.

After reading a report of Kearney’s competency examination that occurred last week, Judge Rasin found him to be incompetent to stand trial and a danger to himself and others, although restorable through medication.

Kearney was re-committed under a new order that includes a six months status meeting and one-year assessment.

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