Girl, 11, ‘not competent’ to stand trial for murder

An 11-year-old girl charged with murder in the fatal beating of a two-month-old girl in February is not competent to stand trial, an Ohio judge has ruled.

Lake County Juvenile Court Judge Karen Lawson made the decision after a day of testimony from psychologists and said the girl has significant mental health issues that make her incapable of understanding court proceedings.

She has been held in a juvenile detention centre since February 6, the day two-month-old Zuri Whitehead died in surgery.

Police say the baby was severely beaten while staying at a Wickliffe home with the girl and her mother — a friend of the infant’s mother.

Doctors testified the girl had a history of mental health problems. She girl will be held at a juvenile detention centre for 90 days until a suitable placement is found. The murder charge against her will then be dismissed, Lawson said.