Nearly a year has passed since a 28-year-old Chantilly man was killed in his apartment — stabbed while he slept — but the murder suspect has still not come to trial.
That's because the suspect — the victim's brother — is in a state mental facility, and it's still not known when or if he'll be declared competent to stand trial for murder.
The tragedy occurred Dec. 20, 2001 — just five days before Christmas. The victim, Saeed Deria, was in bed in his Rockland Village apartment, around 5 a.m., when he was brutally attacked. Fairfax County police believe that Ahmed Deria, 30 — who was visiting his brother at the time — did the deed.
The victim died six hours later, around 11 a.m., at Inova Fairfax Hospital from a single stab wound to his upper body. Police initially charged Ahmed Deria, of 6004 Burdon Court in the Kingstowne section of Franconia, with malicious wounding. But after his brother died, on Jan. 22 a grand jury indicted him for murder.
After that, however, the suspect's unknown mental state caused the wheels of justice to all but churn to a halt, where he's concerned. Although he's appeared in court twice, the case against him has not been able to go forward.
After being placed in the Adult Detention Center, Deria exhibited particularly bizarre behavior. He had visual and auditory hallucinations — and he refused to take medication or wear clothes. His actions so alarmed the authorities that he was given a psychiatric examination and was found incompetent.
Afraid that he was becoming a danger to himself and to others at the jail, the county had him transferred, Feb. 13, to Cantral State Hospital. There, Dr. Eugene Gourley, a clinical psychologist, examined him. Later testifying, May 24, at Deria's competency hearing in Circuit Court, he said no one knew, yet, if Deria is retarded or simply lacks the education to understand what's happening to him.
He said Deria has difficulty reasoning and comprehending the court process — especially the concepts of a jury trial and the differences between the various pleas he could enter. "I don't think he'd be able to understand the [legal] process to help his attorney," said Gourley. "He seemed to understand what he was charged with, but didn't understand the seriousness of it or of the consequences."
The doctor said Deria's psychiatric and medical history appeared to be consistent with schizophrenia. And because of a childhood head trauma, he said Deria has problems with thinking and memory.
"He couldn't complete school in Somalia and was never able to function as an adult, so we have some concerns about his cognitive ability, as well," explained Gourley. He said Deria's learned some English — his native language is Somalian — but must have things constantly repeated to him.
Gourley also revealed that Deria had stabbed the same brother, a couple years ago, in California, but the doctor didn't know if he was punished for it legally. He said Deria told him the authorities "let him go." And he noted that Deria needs continued treatment and medication to keep from becoming violent and aggressive.
After that hearing, Judge Jonathan Thacher ordered Deria sent to Central State Hospital for psychiatric treatment and assessment. He wanted more to be determined about the suspect's cognitive ability, and he asked to be apprised of his progress.
Deria returned to court, Nov. 8. However, after receiving an update on his condition, the judge determined that he had not made enough progress and was still unable to stand trial. Thacher then ordered him returned to the hospital for further evaluation. As yet, no motive has been revealed for Saeed Deria's slaying.