Judge: No insanity defence for man charged in police attack

By iNFOTEL
October 11 2018 05:29 PM

CP1658757262 — FILE - This image provided by the State of Maryland shows Michael Ford, one of the suspects involved in the shooting of Prince George\'s County police Officer Jacai Colson. A judge has ruled that Ford is not qualified to pursue an insanity defense. But the Washington Post reports that a Prince George\'s County Circuit Court judge did acknowledge Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, that Ford has serious mental-health issues. (State of Maryland via AP, File)

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. – A judge has ruled that a man charged in a deadly shooting at a Maryland police station is not qualified to pursue an insanity defence.

The Washington Post reports the ruling by a Prince George’s County Circuit Court judge did acknowledge that 25-year-old Michael Deandre Ford has serious mental-health issues. Ford’s attorney, Antoini M. Jones, said at Thursday’s hearing that doctors assessed Ford but determined his challenges stemming from childhood are not enough for a possible legal finding of “not criminally responsible.”

Ford is accused of attacking a county police station in 2016. Undercover narcotics detective 28-year-old Jacai Colson had responded to the gunfire and was fatally shot by another officer.

Ford is charged with murder, attempted murder, assault and other offences. Trial is scheduled to start Oct. 22.

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Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com

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