Fresno, California (October 22, 2013): It is learnt that a judge on October 21, 2013 observed that a homeless man is legally incompetent to stand trial in Fresno County Superior Court in connection with the May attack on an elderly Sikh man.
Bapu Piara Singh (82); who was attacked at Fresno
Gilbert Garcia Jr., 29, is accused of attacking Piara Singh, 82, with a steel rod outside of the Nanaksar Sikh Temple in southwest Fresno in what the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office is calling a hate crime.
A criminal complaint accuses Garcia of attempted murder and elder abuse. On Oct. 21, Judge Alvin Harrell III decided Garcia was incompetent to stand trial after reading reports from three doctors who examined the defendant.
Harrell then scheduled a Nov. 19 hearing to determine where to send Garcia for treatment. Until the placement decision is made, Garcia will be held in the county jail.
Fresno police said Singh was approached by a bicyclist at Cherry and North avenues just after 7 a.m. May 5. Without saying a word, the attacker beat Singh in the head and body with a rod. Singh injuries included broken ribs and head wounds.