Competency Exam for Murder Suspect Started

Two defense-retained psychiatrists testified Thursday in the competency exam in for Viktor Shaholli who is charged in the .

Dr. Gerald Shiener testified before District Court Judge Mark Fratarcangeli that after examining the 62-year-old St. Clair Shores resident in the Macomb County Jail, he determined that Shaholli is not competent to stand trial.

Shiener stated that Shaholli did not understand the court proceedings and was suffering from severe depression due to the death of his wife two years ago along with brain damage from the use of drugs to treat his migraine headaches.

"The only thing he could say was, 'I don't know what I did,'" Shiener testified.

A second psychiatrist, Ancuta E. Matei, reviewed the psychiatric exams by the defense and prosecution and approved the methodology used in both examinations.

The exam was adjourned late Thursday, and will resume in mid-June, to allow the psychiatrist from the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ypsilanti to testify.

According to testimony, Dr. Donna Rinnas found Shaholli competent to stand trial.

Shaholli, who appeared in court Thursday shackled and wearing jail-issued clothes, looked around the courtroom during the proceedings and often stared back at members of his family seated in the courtroom.

Shaholli, a native of Albania who holds a green card, is charged with first-degree murder and felony firearm charges for the Nov. 20 fatal shooting of Dashamir Matjani on Recreation Street.

He is being held in the Macomb County Jail without bond. If convicted, he could face life in prison.