At one point during his incarceration, One Goh refused to eat anything in court at all and it really showed in court Monday. His physical appearance has changed dramatically since he's been in jail these past nine months. His red jumpsuit hung loosely over his boney frame. The 43-year-old defendant appeared to have lost 40 to 50 pounds. He looked exactly the way his lawyer, David Klaus, described him. He seemed like a "deeply troubled man."
"He's locked up in shame, and remorse, and sadness. He's not eating. He's not taking good care of himself. I think he's significantly mentally ill," Klaus said.
The second psychiatrist said Goh was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. Klaus said it was based on numerous factors including, "The experiences he's been having in terms of hallucinations and thought patterns, but also really based on the police report, based upon his confession to the police in which he took responsibility for the acts."
In late November, another psychiatrist concluded that Goh is incompetent to stand trial. She also concurred that Goh has longstanding paranoid schizophrenia and was unable to cooperate with his lawyers because he doesn't understand the criminal justice system. The psychiatrist said Goh is troubled by his religious beliefs, the battle between God and Satan, and his role in that conflict.
Goh has already pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder, and other charges related to the April 2 shooting rampage at Oikos University. Seven people were killed that day at the Christian College in Oakland. Three others were wounded. Prosecutors say Goh was a former student who reportedly wanted a refund of his tuition and may have targeted an administrator who was not at school the day of the shootings. According to police, Goh admitted he was the one who fired the shots.
The constitution demands that defendants understand what is going on in court and that they be able to participate in their defense. The two psychiatrists concluded that Goh cannot do that right now. So, he'll end up in a mental institution to be treated for his illness. If and when that happens, he'll be back in court to stand trial.
