Tarantino v. Superior Court

Opinion

DRAPER, P. J .

Tarantino is charged with arson (Pen. Code, § 448a). At a hearing on pretrial motions held July 3, 1974, the trial judge expressed a doubt as to Tarantino’s present mental competence, i.e., whether he is able to “understand the nature of the proceedings taken against him and to assist counsel in the conduct of a defense in a rational manner.” (Pen. Code, § 1367.) The court suspended the criminal proceedings (Pen. Code, § 1368) and appointed two psychiatrists (Evid. Code, § 730) to examine petitioner and report to the court. Petitioner refused to be examined except in the…