The man accused of fatally stabbing beloved actor James Handy, 44-year old Michael Gledhill, has been deemed mentally ‘unfit’ to stand trial by a Los Angeles judge, halting criminal proceedings.
In a highly unusual turn of events, Michael reportedly called the police himself around 9:30am following Handy’s death, as he stated to officers: “I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin.”
The 81-year-old, who suffered a fatal stabbing outside his home in Tarzana, was discovered “unconscious and suffering,” according to a press release from the LAPD.
Micheal, the adult son of James’s long time partner, Wendy, was not present at his competency hearing on Monday, June 22 – as he “apparently declined transportation” from jail, one of his two public defenders told Judge Anthony J. Mohr. His defence team were there on his behalf.
© Getty ImagesFollowing a psychiatric evaluation reviewed by the judge, it was determined that the actor’s alleged killer is currently unable to understand the legal proceedings against him and therefore assist in his own defence.
Superior Court Judge Maria Cavalluzzi also declared Micheal incompetent to stand trial and ordered him to undergo forced medicated treatment for one year – as deemed appropriate by a clinical psychiatrist.
Gledhill’s father and stepmother were in court on Monday, but not his mother Wendy Gledhill, James’s girlfriend.
© Getty ImagesThis development comes as another shock in the wave of tragedy that has left the acting world, and fans, in disbelief.
The Top Gun legend had more than 150 acting credits under his belt, having started out in 1977 with an appearance in Ryan’s Hope. Over his studded career he has starred in projects like Jumanji, Arachnophobia, The Rocketeer, Beverly Hills 90210 and The Young and the Restless.
Despite opting out of her son’s public hearing, Micheal’s mother Wendy explained to TMZ that Michael was diagnosed with schizophrenia in July 2025, and had been taking his prescribed medication, but stopped about a week before James was fatally stabbed on June 3.
© Getty ImagesIn a tearful statement to the California Post, Wendy, 76, told reporters: “I’m just trying to make it through one day at a time, a minute at a time,”. She continued, “I loved James and my son. I still can’t believe it… I can’t believe my son did it.”
The case has now been transferred to mental health proceedings while officials determine the next steps. If treatment successfully restores Michael’s competency, prosecutors could eventually move forward with a murder trial. Though a further hearing is scheduled for July.
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