New hearing for man accused murdering Cork-born bishop in Los Angeles
‘Bishop Dave’, as he was affectionately known, was much admired for his peace-making during the LA riots in 1992. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
The man accused of the murder of a Cork-born bishop in Los Angeles is to face a further hearing this month to establish if he is mentally competent to face trial.
The case against Carlos Medina arising out of the police investigation into the gun killing of Bishop David O’Connell in his Los Angeles home in February 2023 has been stalled for almost a year and a half.
Bishop O’Connell, a native of Brooklodge in Glanmire, had served as a priest in the Los Angeles archdiocese since he was ordained in 1979. He was laid to rest in a crypt in Los Angeles Cathedral.
LA county sheriff Robert Luna described him as a peacemaker who “had a passion serving those in need while improving our community".
Medina was charged in February 2023 with the murder of 69-year-old Bishop O’Connell, as well as with a special allegation that he used a firearm during the commission of an offence.
He has denied both charges.
He faces a competency hearing on June 23 in Hollywood courthouse to establish if he is well enough to stand for trial.
The case against him has been suspended since October 2024 after his lawyers raised concerns about his ability to stand trial.
Their concerns arose during interactions with him following his arrest, while his behaviour in prison as he awaited trial also raised alarm.
An independent expert brought in to assess Medina concluded he was not fit to stand trial.
The first competency hearing took place in the case in October 2024, and the case has been suspended since then.
According to the LA district attorney’s office, Californian law “provides for such a hearing whenever a defense attorney or judge raises the issue of a defendant’s competency to stand trial”.
If Medina is found mentally unfit to stand trial, he will be required to undergo psychiatric treatment by a licensed psychologist. Following that, the judge will decide on what options of treatment are required, which could include referral to a state mental health facility, for a period of up to four months.
After that, the court could grant additional time for treatment, or order that the criminal proceedings against him could continue.
Medina was arrested after barricading himself into his home following the discovery of the bishop's body by a deacon who went to the house after Bishop O’Connell failed to turn up for a scheduled meeting.
Medina’s wife was a housekeeper for Bishop O’Connell while Medina himself also carried out some work for him on a number of occasions.
Following Bishop O’Connell’s death, all county flags in Los Angeles were lowered to half-mast in his honour, while vigils were held nightly in the week after he died.
An exhibit of some of his belongings has been opened in a church where he served.
A project called Blessed are the Peacemakers, a new Catholic education curriculum, which will feature clips and videos from Bishop O’Connell’s life, is set to be introduced next year.
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