Trial Ordered for Murder Suspect

A 31-year-old Uzbek immigrant was ordered Monday to stand trial for murder in the January 1999 shooting death of a Camarillo software company executive.

After a short preliminary hearing, Mikhail Khaimchayev was held to answer charges of murder and use of a firearm. He was fired from the firm just days before the shooting.

It was the second such proceeding for Khaimchayev, who spent more than a year in a mental hospital after a judge ruled he was incompetent to stand trial in connection with the Jan. 13, 1999, workplace shooting.

Authorities say Khaimchayev walked into his former offices and shot software company co-owner Sheldon Snyder, 36, nine times before turning the gun on himself.

Khaimchayev was hospitalized for several weeks after being shot in the stomach.

He trembled throughout his first preliminary hearing and was sent to Patton State Hospital, after being diagnosed as psychotic.

Criminal proceedings were reinstated several months ago after doctors determined that Khaimchayev was able to understand court proceedings.

Deputy Public Defender Howard Asher then requested a new preliminary hearing, saying his client was mentally ill at the time of the first one.

Asher said Monday that his client’s mental health remains an issue in the case.

“He is suffering from a mental illness that fluctuates from day to day,” Asher said.

“It’s just kind of a wait-and-see situation.”

Khaimchayev has denied the criminal charges.

He is scheduled to appear Oct. 2 for an arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court and remains in Ventura County Jail in lieu of $790,000 bail.

His trial is expected to begin early next year.