Crime & Safety
Mental Competency Of Man Accused Of Killing OC Doctor Questioned
The attorney for the suspect raised a suspicion Tuesday that his client was not mentally healthy enough to assist in his defense.
DANA POINT, CA — The mental competency of a 39-year-old Long Beach man charged with murder in the killing of a bicyclist in Dana Point was questioned Tuesday, after the man's attorney said that his client was not mentally healthy enough to assist in his defense.
Long Beach resident Vanroy Evan Smith is scheduled for a hearing on Feb. 22 in the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana to evaluate his mental health.
He faces a murder charge for the killing of 58-year-old Dr. Michael John Mammone, an emergency room doctor in South Orange County, as well as a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon.
Find out what's happening in Laguna Niguel-Dana Pointfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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Kevin Song of the Orange County Public Defender's Office is currently serving as Smith's attorney. Song raised the doubt about his client's mental health at a pretrial hearing Tuesday in the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.
Find out what's happening in Laguna Niguel-Dana Pointfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
As of Wednesday, the criminal proceedings against Smith were suspended as his mental health is evaluated.
Smith pleaded not guilty Feb. 3 at his arraignment in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana, court records say.
He is accused of hitting a bicyclist with his car before stabbing the victim and leaving him with critical injuries at about 3 p.m. Wednesday at Pacific Coast Highway and Crown Valley Parkway.
The bicyclist, who was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, was later identified by authorities as 58-year-old Michael John Mammone, an emergency medicine doctor who practices at Mission Hospital in Laguna Beach, authorities said.
Orange County sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the corner for a traffic collision and assault.
Mammone was riding a bicycle north on PCH when Smith struck him from behind and then got out and stabbed the bicyclist, sheriff's deputies said.
Bystanders detained Smith until deputies arrived.
Sheriff's investigators say there does not appear to be any connection between the two.
Smith could face up to 26 years to life in prison if convicted at trial.
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