Man Found Competent To Stand Trial In Officer's Death
DETROIT (WWJ) - A man accused of hitting and killing a Detroit police officer with his car in Detroit has been ruled competent to stand trial.
Prosecutors say 30-year-old Saddam Mohsin of Buffalo, New York, fatally struck the officer as he was working on foot in the Greektown entertainment district late at night.
Mohsin is charged with first-degree murder, murder of a police officer, failure to stop at an accident scene and other crimes.
Monday, 36th District Judge Kenneth King accepted a psychiatric exam that determined that Mohsin is fit for trial.
However, speaking to reporters, Mohsin's attorney, Leon Weiss of the Fieger law firm, implied that his client had mental problems and that he has not been handled fairly.
"[It was] an unfortunate accident and a tragic accident," said Weiss. "But, still, no matter what the profession of the person who passed away ... the government still has an obligation not to over-charge."
"Security video that I've been able to see of the actual event, it was clearly an accident. There was no intent to hit this police officer," Weiss said.
Officer Charles Armour died July 11, six days after he was struck. His death stunned friends and colleagues, who thought he was recovering from injuries not thought to be life-threatening.
A preliminary exam for Mohsin is set for October 5.
