BEHIND THE TIMES:By Debra Friedman
Posted: 03/09/2009 11:10:09 PM EDT
STAMFORD -- A 75-year-old grandfather can now stand trial in the September slaying of his ex-daughter-in-law after a judge ruled him competent Monday.
Gerardo Lombardi of Pemberwick is accused of stabbing and shooting to death Alison McKnight-Lombardi in the backyard of 36 Nicholas Ave., the property next to his home. He is charged with first-degree murder.
In state Superior Court Monday, Julie Jacobs, a social worker with Connecticut Valley Hospital, testified that Lombardi's competency has been restored following 60 days of treatment at Whiting Forensic Institute in Middletown
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Breaking news Posted 1:04 p.m., Monday, March 9, 2009
After completing an evaluation program, accused murderer Gerardo Lombardi has been deemed fit to stand trial.
Superior Court Judge Richard Comerford made his ruling Monday morning after a report from licensed social worker Julie Jacobs, who evaluated Mr. Lombardi during a 60-day period. In December, Judge Comerford had ruled that Mr. Lombardi, 75, was unfit but the hope had been that after a combination of instruction and medication at the Whitney Forensic Institute in Hamden he would be able to understand the nature of the charges against him and assist in his own defense.
On Monday, Ms. Jacobs, who works for the Connecticut Valley Hospital Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, testified that had happened and Judge Comerford will now move the case back to the court’s pre-trial docket.
Mr. Lombardi is accused of murdering his ex-daughter-in-law, Alison McKnight, on Sept. 4. Police say Ms. McKnight, who had reportedly been embroiled in a property dispute with Mr. Lombardi, was shot and stabbed multiple times. Police said Mr. Lombardi was found at the scene of the crime holding a gun and knife, and the prosecution has alleged he confessed while in police custody. Ms. McKnight and Mr. Lombardi’s son were married for 30 years before divorcing last year.
Mr. Lombardi has been charged with first degree murder in Ms. McKnight’s death.
On the stand during the brief hearing on Monday, Ms. Jacobs said Mr. Lombardi was now able to understand the charges against him and assist his defense through education. She described one-on-one education sessions as well as group sessions two to three times a week where he was told about court procedures and rules. Ms. Jacobs said the charges were fully explained to Mr. Lombardi, who was assisted throughout the hearing by an Italian interpreter, as well as what potential punishment he could face if convicted.
Ms. Jacobs testified that Mr. Lombardi is not taking any medication for mental disorders and that the only medicine he is taking is for Parkinson’s disease and some Ambien for sleeping problems. Ms. Jacobs said that Mr. Lombardi’s Parkinson’s was not causing mental problems and that the 60-day evaluation confirmed the initial assessment when he was admitted that he did not suffer from any “thought disorder process.”
“There weren’t any signs that Mr. Lombardi is suffering from any thought disorder or showing any signs of psychosis,” Ms. Jacobs testified.
Mr. Lombardi is next due in court on March 30, at which time it will be determined if a probable cause hearing is required. Mr. Lombardi’s attorney, public defender Howard Ehring, told Judge Comerford that he had spoken previously to his client about whether they would ask for the hearing, but had not since the evaluation program had been completed. He is expected to have an answer for the judge at the March 30 appearance.
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