California Supreme Court overturns murder conviction

The California Supreme Court decided unanimously to overturn the murder conviction of a Los Angeles man who became mentally unstable during his trial.

Domingo Rodas was convicted of killing a homeless man and attempting to kill two others during a series of random stabbings in Hollywood.

The Los Angeles Times reports the high court decided the trial judge should have suspended proceedings and conducted an evaluation when doubts were raised about Rodas' competency.

Rodas, who suffers from severe mental disorders, was found fit for trial after spending several months in a psychiatric hospital receiving medication.

In 2013, after a jury had been selected but before opening statements, Rodas' lawyer told the judge that she doubted whether her client was mentally competent. The judge allowed the trial to proceed.