The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced that DeCarlos Brown Jr., accused of stabbing 23-year-old Irina Zalutka to death on a Charlotte light rail train, was found incompetent to stand trial while receiving treatment. During a recent competency hearing, a federal judge determined Brown could not currently assist in his defense but expressed a good prognosis for his recovery.
Brown has been indicted for causing death on public transportation, facing potential life imprisonment or the death penalty, alongside a state first-degree murder charge. An April ruling had previously deemed him unfit for a state trial, which has been postponed to October.
Medical experts will evaluate Brown’s mental state during up to four months of hospitalization, with another hearing planned to assess his readiness for trial. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson expressed hope for Brown’s eventual competency, emphasizing the importance of a solid case for justice for Zalutka and her family. Brown’s attorney reported his history of severe mental illness and submitted a letter where Brown claimed he was under unlawful control.
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