Van Nuys Man Found Incompetent for Trial
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A 25-year-old Van Nuys man, who was charged with fatally shooting his two older brothers, was found Wednesday to be mentally incompetent to stand trial.
Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Gerald Krieger ordered that Marwan Awwad Samarneh be held in Patton State Hospital until his mental condition improves.
Samarneh, a Jordanian immigrant, is charged with murder in the deaths of his brothers, Mazen Samarneh, 31, and Maher Samarneh, 32, during a family dispute over an unknown matter. Their bodies were discovered Feb. 18 in the apartment the three men shared in the 6900 block of Kester Street.
Two court-appointed psychiatrists who examined Samarneh said he lacks the mental competence to understand the trial proceedings against him, which is required under state law, Deputy Dist. Atty. Tony Castaneda said.
Samarneh’s attorney, Deputy Public Defender John Ponist, said Samarneh will be returned to stand trial if his mental condition improves.
The bodies of the two brothers, both of whom worked as carpenters, were discovered by a family pastor who stopped to check on the men at their mother’s request.
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