Light rail murder suspect found incompetent to stand trial

Caryn Little, Morgan Fogarty,

UPDATE:

The man accused in the murder of Iryna Zarutska has been found incompetent to stand trial at this time.

During a federal competency hearing Tuesday morning, a judge ordered Decarlos Brown to remain in custody and undergo treatment over the next four months.

Despite the ruling, U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson is confident the case will ultimately move forward.

Brown was arrested for stabbing Zarutska to death on a light rail commuter train in Charlotte.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A competency hearing will be held Tuesday in federal court for light rail murder suspect Decarlos Brown. He is accused of stabbing Iryna Zarutska to death on the train in August.

According to documents filed by his defense team last month, mental health examiners found Brown not competent to stand trial on federal charges.

Brown has also been found incompetent to stand trial on state charges.

His attorneys say a finding of incompetence does not mean he will be released from jail. Instead, he will be sent to a secure facility for treatment. If competency is restored, he will then face the criminal charges.