Court to decide soon if man accused of shooting Cork bishop in LA is fit to stand trial

An independent expert brought in to assess Carlos Medina believed he was not well enough to stand trial

Bishop O’Connell, a native of Brooklodge in Glanmire, had served as a priest in the Los Angeles archdiocese since he was ordained in 1979. File photo: AP/Julio Cortez

A Hollywood court is expected to decide shortly on whether a man accused of shooting a Cork bishop will be tried for his murder.

Carlos Medina was charged in February 2023 with the murder of 69-year-old Bishop David O’Connell in his Los Angeles home in February 2023. He was also charged with a special allegation that he used a firearm during the commission of an offence.

Bishop O’Connell, a native of Brooklodge in Glanmire, had served as a priest in the Los Angeles archdiocese since he was ordained in 1979. The sheriff of Los Angeles County, Robert Luna, described him as a peacemaker who “had a passion serving those in need while improving our community."

The case was stalled in October 2024 after his lawyers raised concerns about his ability to stand trial, during a pre-trial hearing.

Their concerns arose during interactions they had with him since his arrest while his behaviour in prison, awaiting trial, had also sparked concern. An independent expert brought in to assess Medina believed he was not well enough to stand trial.

A competency inquiry is now underway, with the matter due back before the court on Tuesday afternoon.

A source told the Irish Examiner it is not certain yet when the competency inquiry will conclude “because they are doing it only in the afternoons”.

If Medina is found mentally unfit to stand trial, he will be required to undergo psychiatric treatment by a licensed psychologist. Following that, the judge will decide on what options of treatment are required, which could include referral to a state mental health facility, for a period of up to four months.

After that, the court could grant additional time for treatment, or order that the criminal proceedings against him could continue. If convicted, Medina could face up to 35 years to life in prison.

According to the LA district attorney’s office, Californian law “provides for such a hearing whenever a defense attorney or judge raises the issue of a defendant’s competency to stand trial”.