The attorney for the man accused of fatally shooting legendary Oakland football coach John Beam raised questions Wednesday about her client’s mental fitness to stand trial, casting fresh uncertainty on a prosecution that has garnered national attention.
The public defender’s concerns effectively pause the criminal case against Cedric Irving Jr. while psychologists evaluate whether or not he is mentally competent to be prosecuted. If it is determined that he is not, Irving could be sent to a state hospital for treatment, with the goal of restoring his ability to understand court proceedings.
The move casts a fresh spotlight on Irving’s mental well-being, after he initially told investigators after his arrest that Beam had placed “witchcraft” on him sometime before the shooting. The statement later led Alameda County Chief Public Defender Brendon Woods to say the statement “suggests serious mental health problems may play a significant role in this case.”
The matter of Irving’s mental competency pertains solely to whether or not he understands court proceedings and can aid in his own defense. It is a completely separate legal matter from his mental state at the time of the killing, meaning it has no bearing on whether or not his attorneys could seek an insanity defense at trial.
Irving’s public defender, Sydney Levin, said during a hearing Wednesday there was “substantial” evidence that her client was not competent. Though he was scheduled to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty in the case, he did not.
Alameda County Assistant District Attorney Danielle London initially opposed the notion that Irving is not mentally fit to be prosecuted.
Alameda County Judge Thomas Reardon, however, said that the issue of Irving’s mental competency needed to be explored. At London’s request, Reardon ordered that Irving undergo two psychological evaluations, rather than the minimum of one.
Reardon said the evaluations needed to be completed by Irving’s next court date of Feb. 27. In the meantime, Irving remains held without bail at the Santa Rita Jail.
Check back for updates to this developing story.
Jakob Rodgers is a senior breaking news reporter. Call, text or send him an encrypted message via Signal at 510-390-2351, or email him at jrodgers@bayareanewsgroup.com.