Defendant found incompetent for Waterville WA murder trial

WATERVILLE, Wash. (AP) - Criminal proceedings against a former orchard worker from Mexico accused of stabbing to death a co-worker have been put on hold by a court commissioner after she found the defendant incompetent to stand trial.

Twenty-nine-year-old Eliseo Aguirre Fuentes is charged with first-degree murder while armed with a deadly weapon in the Oct. 6 death of 31-year-old Gabriel Garcia Cabanas.

The fatal stabbing happened while both were employed at an orchard north of Orondo.

Douglas County Superior Court Commissioner Jill Wise ruled Aguirre incompetent to stand trial. She acted upon the advice of a licensed psychiatrist.

Wise ordered a hold on criminal proceedings against Aguirre for up to 90 days or until a further court order.

Wise ordered Eastern State Hospital in Medical Lake to keep the defendant, provide necessary treatment and medications, and to advise the court when Aguirre is able to understand the proceedings against him and assist in his own defense.

Aguirre told Douglas County sheriff's deputies that he and Garcia came to Orondo together from Mexico in July and Garcia raped him twice while he was sleeping.

Information from: The Wenatchee World, http://www.wenworld.com