Defense seeks court-ordered mental health test for Oberlin murder suspect
Attorney Jenifer Berki Merrill asked a judge to determine if Daniel Jones is competent to stand trial after his parents were shot dead in their home.
By Abigail Brooks ·
Daniel Jones, a 31-year-old man accused of shooting his parents in Oberlin last week, may need a formal mental health evaluation before his trial begins. His attorney, Jenifer Berki Merrill, filed a motion with the court on Wednesday morning requesting that judge to order the assessment. Merrill wrote that she has concerns about Jones' ability to meaningfully assist in his defense. She stated these concerns are based on interactions and information obtained during her representation of him.
Jones faces charges of murder, felonious assault, and tampering with evidence. The charges stem from the killing of his father, Oberlin College Professor Pipo Nguyen-Duy, and his stepmother, Tran Thi Phong. At his arraignment last week, bailiffs carried Jones into the courtroom because he refused to walk on his own. During that hearing, witnesses described him alternating between crying and smiling at cameras.
Michael Benza, a professor at Case Western Reserve School of Law, reviewed the body camera footage from the court appearance. He noted that Jones made claims about escaping a cult and escaping bad people. Benza said these remarks, along with Jones' interaction with deputies, raised immediate questions about his mental state. He described the behavior as a red flag that did not stop with the physical handling of the defendant.
Prosecutor Zachary Simonoff stated that Jones' mother told police he is currently psychotic and requires medication. However, Jones did answer questions from the judge clearly during the arraignment. He told the court he was unemployed but worked as a street musician. He also asked if he would be represented by an attorney. Benza explained that answering questions does not automatically mean a defendant is fit to stand trial. He noted that an evaluation looks at the person's ability to understand the nature of the proceedings and work with their attorney.
Merrill has not responded to messages seeking more detail on her specific concerns. The Lorain County prosecutor's office has not answered requests for comment on the court filing. Benza believes the judge will have little choice but to move forward with the evaluation. He cited the Constitution as being clear that if a defendant makes a credible showing of a competency issue, the court must conduct the evaluations.
The next step in this case will be determined by the court's ruling on the motion filed this week. The judge will decide whether to order the psychological evaluation requested by the defense team.
