Accused arsonist may be incompetent to stand trial

In other news from the Supreme Court, the trial of an accused arsonist was interrupted when a psychiatrist testified that the defendant was incompetent to face the charges. Dr. Roy Lopez of the Ministry of Health told the court that Mark Garnett does not have the intellect to follow the evidence at his trial and is unable to understand the proceedings. Justice Michelle Arana was satisfied that the issue of Garnett’s fitness is a real one and the jury was discharged at the request of prosecutor Audrey Matura. If the Crown decides to bring back the case, a new jury will determine his capacity to stand trial while a second jury would rule on his guilt or innocence if he is found capable. The arson charges arose out of an incident in September of 2002 in which a witness reportedly saw Garnett set fire to his house near mile eleven on the Northern Highway.