Court Bombshell! Psychologist Says Farrah Fawcett's Son 'Incompetent' To Stand Trial In Attempted Murder Case
June 18 2019, Updated 11:46 a.m. ET
A third psychologist diagnosed Redmond O'Neal as "incompetent" to stand trial on serious felony charges related to a 2018 crime spree, but now prosecutors must resolve whether a jury should decide the fate of Farrah Fawcett and Ryan O'Neal's troubled son, RadarOnline.com is exclusively reporting.
According to O'Neal's attorney, Nina Daly, the 34-year old was deemed incompetent to stand trial by psychologist Nancy Kaser-Boyd, who observed and interviewed O'Neal in person.
In an exclusive interview with RadarOnline.com, Daly said O'Neal has continued to deteriorate as he continues to sit in jail without any medication he needs to stabilize his mental state. Daly said O'Neal has a history of auditory hallucinations and outbursts because of his serious mental illnesses.
"We now have a determinate evaluation that says Redmond is clearly not competent," Daly told RadarOnline.com exclusively after June 17 hearing. "We don't have a choice in this matter. We have to get him the help he needs to address his mental disabilities. If you have auditory hallucinations that no one else in the room could hear, does that sound like he is competent to you? He first needs to be treated and restored to competency."
O'Neal has been in Los Angeles County jail for a year facing attempted murder charges, armed robbery and other serious felonies he allegedly committed during a week-long crime spree in May 2018, but that case was put on hold after Daly called into question her client's ability to understand his criminal case and the legal procedures.
The law requires that a defendant must be rationally competent in order to make sure the criminal proceedings are fair. At a hearing in Mental Health Court on Monday, June 17, Deputy District Attorney Matthew Byrne said he has yet to read Kaser-Boyd's report.
Another hearing was scheduled for next month when the prosecution plans to tell Commissioner Laura Streimer whether or not they agree with Kaser-Boyd's findings, or ask for a court or jury trial to determine O'Neal's competency to stand trial.
At Monday's hearing, Daly told Streimer that she would opt for a court trial, rather than a jury trial, to decide whether or not O'Neal is competent.
Daly said she has seen O'Neal's mental decline for the last three years, and fears there could have been a significant brain event that could have caused a psychotic break on him.
"That's another reason why we need to get him into a hospital," Daly told RadarOnline.com exclusively. "His mental state has continued to deteriorate, and he needs further testing to find out what exactly is happening. He has moments when he is the sweetest kid, but he also has these outbursts that could be brutal.
"He has had a really hard life. People think that money and fame makes everything fine ... that if you have money, your life is rosy. ... This needs to be dispelled. People are quick to attribute successes to the celebrity relative, but the failures (of the child) are entirely theirs. That's not fair. Redmond never asked for, encouraged or wanted that celebrity. It was hell for him and it never stopped."
According to a October 2018 report by psychiatrist Sanjay Sahgal, O’Neal has had a “litany” of psychiatric hospitalizations. In an April 2017 discharge summary from one of those facilities, O’Neal was diagnosed with multiple mental health problems, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and various drug addictions.
A second psychologist, Anna Kafka, also initially diagnosed O'Neal incompetent to stand trial, but after interviewing O'Neal in person for about 10 to 15 minutes on Dec. 4, 2018, Kafka reversed her diagnosis and found O'Neal was lucid and understood his criminal charges.
The third psychological evaluation from Kaser-Boyd could be important in determining whether O'Neal should be sent to a mental state hospital for treatment, or if his criminal trial should resume.
O’Neal is facing at least 20 years in state prison for the week-long crime spree in May 2018 where he allegedly used a knife to rob a convenience store. Prosecutors also allege O’Neal plunged a three-and-a half inch knife into the head of one man and attacked another man with a broken glass bottle.
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Daly told RadarOnline.com exclusively while the chain of events that occurred on May 2018 was very unfortunate for all involved, the defense attorney said O'Neal still has rights.
"I think the end goal is to get Redmond the help he needs so he could rationally defend himself," Daly said. "He can't do that right now. I think given the charges levied against him and given the serious sentences that he could be facing, it's important that he be able to participate and have the best shot in making decision about what could happen to his life. This is very sad all the way around."
