Leary’s Daughter Again Ruled Unfit for Trial
The daughter of 1960s LSD guru Timothy Leary was again ruled incompetent to stand trial for attempted murder in the 1988 shooting of her sleeping boyfriend.
Superior Court Judge Terry Smerling said Tuesday that Susan Martino, 42, was unable to understand the charges against her and committed her to a state psychiatric hospital until she could be found fit.
In 1989, a judge found Martino unable to stand trial on the charges. She could be held for up to 14 years if she does not recover.
Martino, also known as Susan Leary, was charged with shooting Joel Ruben Chavira in the back of the head as he took a nap on a couch in their apartment in Glendale. She has pleaded not guilty.
Chavira has said that he awoke to a loud explosion in the back of his head on Dec. 18, 1988. He felt blood and then went into the kitchen and confronted Martino, who was holding a gun.
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