Stabbing suspect to be evaluated

Darleene Barrientos

A Glendale man who appeared for a murder trial Thursday instead was

sent to Patton State Hospital for mental evaluation, court officials

said.

Sang Nam Chang, 49, is charged with murder in the stabbing of his

22-year-old son, Young “Simon” Chang, on June 1, 2002.

“The judge expressed doubt in his ability to assist in defending

himself,” said Ryann Gerber, the district attorney for the case. “We

can’t proceed with prosecuting him until he’s fit.”

Simon Chang was found in the living room of his family’s apartment

about 12:15 a.m. in the 400 block of North Kenwood Street.

Police found Chang in a bedroom with knife wounds to his throat,

wrists and upper torso. He was treated at County-USC Medical Center.

The police’s investigation was inconclusive as to the motive, but

Sgt. Kirk Palmer believed it was largely domestic violence.

“Interfamily tensions just translated into the incident,” Palmer

said.

Neighbors have said the family kept to themselves but argued

periodically, and loudly, throughout the 10 years they lived in the

apartment.

At the time of his death, Simon Chang was working two jobs to

support himself and to pay for a car he had recently bought. He was a

graduate of Glendale High School, where he was a member of the track

and field team.

The public defender representing Chang, Natalie Parisky, could not

be reached for comment. Chang’s progress report is to be reviewed May

28.