A 75-year-old South Bay woman accused of killing her elderly roommate in 2011 is now facing her second mental competency trial on Oct. 14.
A San Diego Superior Court judge found Maria Moore mentally competent to stand trial in October 2014, several years after she was earlier found mentally incompetent to stand trial in the death of Charmian Theresa Antaramian, 83. The victim was beaten to death in her home on Citrus Avenue in the Palm City area.
Moore was ordered to stand trial for murder in her preliminary hearing in Chula Vista Superior Court on Feb. 13.
A doctor testified the victim had bruises all over her body, which was found in the bathroom. She had died three to four days earlier.
In July Moore’s attorney said he again doubted that Moore was mentally competent, so a judge decided there will be another mental competency trial in San Diego Superior Court. It will probably be decided by a judge, not a jury.
Moore often makes verbal outbursts in court, sometimes insisting she is mentally competent. She has been unsuccessful in trying to get another attorney.
She has also spent time in Patton State Hospital where doctors treated her with medication and said she had recovered her mental competency.
Moore remains in the Las Colinas Women’s Detention Facility on $1 million bail.
She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
