Crime & Safety
Man Charged In Wife's Death Must Undergo Competency Exam: Report
A judge has ordered that the New Canaan man, who is charged with murder, take the test before entering an insanity defense, a report says.
NEW CANAAN, CT — Albert Kokoth, the man charged with murder in his wife's shooting death, will have to undergo a competency exam before he can enter a not guilty by reason of insanity plea, the New Canaan Advertiser reported.
Judge Gary White ordered Kokoth — a 77-year-old New Canaan resident — to take the exam, the newspaper reported. Kokoth's attorney, Mark Sherman, announced his client's plans to enter into the insanity defense in January, according to another New Canaan Advertiser story.
If he is found not guilty because of insanity, the court would order Kokoth committed to a hospital for an evaluation of his mental condition, the newspaper reported.
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Kokoth's wife, Margaret, was shot and killed in May 2021, Police Lt. Jason Ferraro said at the time.
He was initially charged with second-degree assault, second-degree assault with a firearm and illegal discharge of a firearm stemming from the event, Ferraro said, then in July was charged with murder as well.
Find out what's happening in New Canaanfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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