There has been some movement in the Todd Walters homicide case. Walters is the Indiana man charged with beating to death his 72-year-old mother, Ruth Shirey, at her home on Diamond Avenue in February of 2015.
In January, President Judge William Martin ordered a halt to all court proceedings against Walters and remanded him to Torrance State Hospital for renewed treatment of his mental health issues. Then in March, Walters’ attorney filed a Motion for Diversion and Civil Commitment Pursuant to Mental Health Procedures, a legal maneuver that could eventually lead to the dismissal of the charges. In April, Judge Martin denied the motion.
On September 28th, Judge Martin ordered a review hearing of Walters’ involuntary treatment, scheduling it for March 9th of next year. He further ordered the Torrance psychiatric staff to examine Walters and provide the court and Walters’ attorney with a report, specifically on whether or not Walters believes his mother is deceased and whether or not he is competent to stand trial. Walters has repeatedly denied that his mother is dead. The psychiatric report is due to the court no later than ten days before that hearing.
Last year, Judge Martin finally declared Walters fit to stand trial, but the case was stayed in January when more mental health issues became evident.
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