Three psychiatrists have found the defendant incompetent to stand trial in the Mission Valley Christmas Eve triple homicide, according to his defense attorney.
Carlo Mercado is accused of killing brothers Sal and Gianni Belvedere and Gianni's fiancee, Ilona Flint.
Deputy Defense Attorney Brian Erickson said reports submitted by three psychiatrists found Mercado not competent to stand trial.
Two psychiatrists and one psychologist diagnosed Mercado as schizophrenic, psychotic and suffering from catatonic depression, according to his attorney.
When attorneys from both sides met in court Monday, the competency hearing was rescheduled for next week.
The prosecutor has only received one judge-ordered report and wants to make his decision after looking at the reports done by the defense.
Prosecutors asked for a week to look into whether they will demand a civil trial with a jury to determine whether Mercado is competent to stand trial.
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This will include possibly getting a psychiatrist of their own to review the psychiatric reports provided by the defense.
If the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office decides not to pursue a civil trial, Mercado will be sent to Patton State Hospital.
It could take months of treatment for Mercado to be able to be tried, his attorney said.
Flint and Salvatore were found critically shot in a parking lot outside the Macy’s department store at Westfield Mission Valley Mall in San Diego’s Mission Valley area on Dec. 24, 2013.
Flint was pronounced dead at the scene of the Christmas Eve shooting. Salvatore died at the hospital a few days later.
