Costa Mesa man accused in fatal hammer-hatchet beating is found mentally incompetent for trial

A 51-year-old Costa Mesa man accused of beating another man to death with a hammer-hatchet was found Friday to be mentally incompetent to stand trial.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Kazuharu Makino suspended criminal proceedings against Ivan Chernev Dimov, who is suspected of killing Kyle Avila, 53, on Nov. 2, 2016, in a parking area next to the Vanguard Way condominium complex where Dimov lived. Dimov pleaded not guilty to a murder charge a month later.

Last month, psychologists Richard Lettieri and Veronica Thomas filed reports with the court regarding Dimov’s mental health, according to court records. The reports are confidential under health records privacy laws but were considered in Friday’s ruling.

“He’s incapable of helping his attorney defend himself,” Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy said.

A hearing about Dimov’s commitment to a state mental hospital is set for Dec. 19, according to court records.

In the days after Avila’s slaying, a neighbor of Dimov’s said she had spoken often with Dimov and his wife about mental-health issues he said he had suffered. Dimov said he had undergone medical testing.

The neighbor, who identified herself only as Kathy, said she answered her front door at about 7:40 the night before Avila was killed to find Dimov there, mumbling something under his breath.

He left, but then returned soon after, opened the screen door and knocked, but Kathy didn’t answer, she said.

DANIEL LANGHORNE is a contributor to Times Community News.