Suspected arsonist to undergo psychiatric review

Meanwhile in the Supreme Court, Justice Adolph Lucas has ordered that a psychiatric exam be conducted on a defendant charged with Arson. Thirty-eight year old Mauricio Banaza has already pled guilty to setting his Mohammed Street apartment on fire in December 2006 but this morning the judge deferred sentencing until a doctor has certified he is mentally competent. Banaza, who is undefended, maintains he is an American citizen. Lucas has adjourned the matter until April thirtieth but says he will call the case earlier if the psychiatric report is ready before that date. According to Banaza’s neighbour Beverley Longsworth, she saw smoke coming from the apartment but when she asked him what was happening, he assured her that he was just smoking a cigarette. When the smoke didn’t stop, Longsworth called 911 and police officers who responded to the scene put out the flames that were burning the plywood walls of the structure. The apartment building’s owner has estimated the fire’s damage at eight hundred dollars.