Judge Rules That The Man Accused of Beheading His Father in Their Home is Competent to Stand Trial
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – A judge ruled Thursday that the man accused of beheading his father in their suburban Philadelphia home earlier this year and posting a video of the severed head online is competent to stand trial.
Judge Stephen Corr delivered his ruling after a lengthy proceeding that lasted almost five hours. Justin Mohn, dressed in a yellow jumpsuit labeled “inmate” on the back, sat in court with his hands cuffed in front of him. He displayed various facial expressions, including smiling, nodding, and shaking his head, in response to the testimony.
Corr also agreed to Mohn’s request to replace his public defender with a different attorney to handle the case. When questioned about his willingness to collaborate with a different attorney, Mohn replied with a resounding “Absolutely.”
The ruling ensures that the case will proceed, attracting significant media attention due to Mohn’s arrest at a National Guard base, located two hours away from his and his parents’ Levittown residence. The incident had already gained widespread notoriety after the disturbing video had been widely circulated online.
The hearing was filled with unexpected moments, as Mohn nodded along and smiled widely at prosecution witness Dr. Kelly Chamberlain. Dr. Chamberlain, a forensic psychologist, testified that she found Mohn to be intelligent, calm, and socially appropriate during their two meetings.
Chamberlain stated that Mohn appeared to have reservations about his lawyer’s decision to employ a mental health defense strategy and displayed a reasonable level of self-interest.
She disagreed with the conclusions of Dr. John Markey, a defense expert witness, who initially diagnosed Mohn with schizophrenia after meeting him four times. However, on Thursday, Dr. Markey changed his diagnosis to delusional disorder. He highlighted Mohn’s letters, where he asserted himself as a messiah-like figure similar to King David, and accused the federal government of persecution.
Mohn developed a belief that his own public defender was secretly working against him, according to Markey. In an attempt to secure refuge, Mohn wrote a letter to Russia’s ambassador to the United States, expressing apologies to President Vladimir Putin for falsely claiming to be the czar of Russia.
“It’s completely misguided,” Markey stated.
According to Chamberlain, she expressed doubt regarding his intention to claim he was the messiah. She pointed out that his writings actually referred to certain cults within the U.S. who consider him to be the messiah.
She expressed her opinion that his writing could be seen as delusional, but acknowledged that it was a part of his rhetoric. He believes that individuals similar to him have been unfairly treated.
Mohn nodded in approval as she gave her testimony.
A corrections officer named Ralph Taylor testified that Mohn displayed exceptional politeness and respect while in jail.
During the initial part of the proceedings, Corr inquired about the purpose of his presence. Mohn responded by acknowledging that he was confronted with several charges, with the most severe being first-degree murder charges.
According to prosecutors, these factors indicated that the individual was capable of actively engaging in his own legal defense.
Prosecutors allege that Mohn is accused of fatally shooting his father before resorting to using a kitchen knife and machete to decapitate him at their shared residence in Levittown.
Justin Mohn later shared a video where he displayed his father’s head and mentioned his father’s occupation as a long-time federal employee. In the video, he made disturbing remarks advocating for violence against the government. Authorities have discovered blood stains on the desk in the room where the video was recorded, alongside a computer with multiple open tabs, including one for YouTube.
Justin Mohn discusses a range of conspiracy theories and expresses his opinions on various topics including the Biden administration, immigration and the border, fiscal policy, urban crime, and the war in Ukraine.
The video remained on YouTube for a few hours before being removed.
Justin Mohn is being charged with first-degree murder, abusing a corpse, and possession of instruments of crime. He is currently being detained without the possibility of bail.
Source: ClickOrlando
