Redwood City, California — A California radiologist accused of trying to kill his family by driving his car off a cliff on the Northern California coast will receive mental health treatment instead of facing trial, a judge has ruled.
Prosecutors have charged Dharmesh A. Patel, 43, with attempted murder in the death of a man who was driving a Tesla car that plunged off a 250-foot cliff along Pacific Coast Highway in San Mateo County, injuring his wife and two young children. All four survived the Jan. 2, 2023, crash in what one official called “a complete miracle.”
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaff said Wednesday he was disappointed with the judge’s decision.
“While we are disappointed with the court’s decision, Judge Jakubowski carefully considered the evidence and facts and ruled to the contrary,” he said.
Patel’s lawyer, Joshua Bentley, argued in May that Patel qualified for mental health diversion under California law, the television station reported.
“It’s important to understand why we’re here. Not everyone who commits a crime is a criminal. This is certainly a very serious case. But the law encompasses exactly this situation,” Bentley told the judge.
Bentley said Patel was undergoing an intensive psychiatric treatment program, was being monitored with a GPS bracelet equipped with a siren and posed no danger to the community.
Deputy District Attorney Dominic Davis argued that Patel should not be eligible for a mental health diversion program because he poses an “unreasonable risk to public safety,” KRON-TV reported.
Patel’s wife testified that she did not want her husband to be prosecuted, saying her children missed their father and wanted him to come home, the television station reported.
Mr Davis said the evidence showed that in the weeks leading up to the triple murder attempt, Patel had been experiencing paranoia and delusions, symptoms of schizoaffective disorder.
The judge agreed with Patel’s defence and said in his ruling that Patel had no history of violent behaviour and that a diagnosis of severe depression played a major role in his behaviour.
Patel, who has been held without bail since his arrest, will remain in custody for a few more weeks before being released to his parents’ home in Belmont, Calif. He will be monitored by GPS, must surrender his driver’s license and passport and appear in court weekly, the judge ruled.
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