Community Corner
Court Officials: Southington Murder Suspect Still ‘Under Evaluation’
James D'Aquila has been unable to assist in his own defense since his arrest in February 2012 for the murder of his mother at Jensen's Trailer Park, and time is beginning to run out on the statute limits for him to be ruled competent to stand trial.
A New Britain man charged with the murder of his mother in a gruesome 2012 incident at Jensen’s Trailer Park has still not been ruled competent to stand trial and time is running out for the state to show he is competent enough for the case to continue.
James D’Aquila, 35, has been receiving mental health evaluations and psychiatric treatment at the Whiting Forensic Division of Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown, but has yet to be determined “competent to stand trial” by professionals at Connecticut Valley Hospital, court officials confirmed after a hearing at New Britain Superior Court on Tuesday.
“He was not found competent and the case was continued to September,” officials in the New Britain State’s Attorney’s Office said.
Southington police arrested D’Aquila in February 2012 after evidence tied him to the murder of his mother Donna D’Aquila, a resident at Jensen’s Trailer Park off Queen Street in Southington. She was found dead as officers responded to her home for a welfare check when she had not been seen in five days.
According to an arrest affidavit, D’Aquila told detectives he had stayed at his mother’s house on Feb. 3 and the following day the tow had gotten into an argument. He admitted to wrestling her to the ground and kicking her repeatedly in the face with his work boots before leaving in her car.
The car was found in New Britain shortly after Donna D’Aquila’s body was discovered and he was taken into custody the following day for questioning, according to police.
When James D’Aquila went before the court, however, officials expressed concerns regarding his state of mind and he was committed to Whiting for mental health evaluations in May 2012.
Under state law, the state has 18-months to show he has been rehabilitated and is competent to stand trial otherwise the case will need to be referred to the state’s probate court system for a civil commitment of the defendant for treatment, Dr. Mark Cotterall said in April.
D’Aquila is expected back before the court in September and again in September and possibly in October if needed. He has been deemed as someone who could be restored.
The state has until Nov. 3, the end of the 18-month evaluation period, before they would then need to refer the case to probate court.
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