WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A judge has ordered a new court evaluation to determine Ji Min Sha's competency.
Sha, who was charged with murder in the death of 20-year-old Varun Manish Chheda, of Indianapolis, in October 2022, was previously found incompetent to stand trial in April by a Tippecanoe County judge.
In his April order, Tippecanoe Circuit Court Judge Sean M. Persin wrote that Sha has reported hallucinations and has experienced chronic psychosis and delusional thoughts while in jail.
According to a Sept. 12 court filing, doctors at Logansport State Hospital found Sha competent to stand trial after months of treatment.
Sha "has attained the ability to understand the proceedings and assist in the preparation of his defense," Logansport State Hospital Superintendent Bethany Schoenradt wrote in a letter to the judge.
Questions have since come up about his continued competency, and so that has led to the court's latest request to have Sha evaluated.
A status hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 8.