A judge has ruled that a Hempfield man is not competent enough to assist in his own defense in a case where he was charged with murder in connection with a fire that killed an 87-year-old woman.
The Tribune-Review reports that Common Pleas Court Judge Meghan Billik-Defazio said that last month’s psychological evaluation of Brian Eric Rendon showed that he did not understand the charges against him. He was charged with the April 2018 fire that destroyed several row houses on South 11th Street. Shirley Kocherans was found dead in her apartment while 11 others were homeless.
He is charged with criminal homicide, second-degree murder and 14 other charges. Rendon will go back before Judge Billik-Defasio in three months for a status update.
