Mental Competency Still At Issue In Ventura Beach Promenade Murder Case

Wednesday December 14, 2022

     Update--More than four years after it happened, the mental competency of the transient accused of killing a man in front of his family at a Ventura Beach Promenade restaurant is still at issue.

     53-year-old Jamal Jackson is accused of the fatal stabbing attack on 35-year-old Anthony Mele of Ventura as Mele sat with his wife and child in the Aloha Steakhouse on the night of April 18, 2018.

     The incident made national news and sparked controversy and protests over the issue of homelessness in Ventura.

     Jackson was declared mentally incompetent to stand trial and was sent to a locked state mental facility.

     With Jackson in court Wednesday, the judge, based on the latest doctor's report, found Jackson still "incompetent to stand trial" and set another competency hearing for Thursday.

     The current issue of competency is whether Jackson can understand the charges against him and aid in his defense.

     This does not settle the issue of whether Jackson was sane or insane at the time of the killing.

     That’s an issue that the defense would raise if the case ever goes to trial.