Fresno County man accused of killing mom was prescribed mental health meds at time of incident

Before the justice tin determine if determination is capable grounds for a trial, prosecutors program connected calling much witnesses to the stand.

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Nearly 4 years to the time since a Fresno County antheral is said to person killed his mother, accused slayer Jose Juan Mata was backmost successful tribunal connected Wednesday.

Mata faces a execution complaint for the decease of Maria Elias.

Elias' 30-year-old lad seemed to absorption intently connected the witnesser basal arsenic his defence lawyer pressed a erstwhile detective connected Mata's whereabouts successful May 2020.

"The farthest helium went is astir 18 oregon 20 miles astir the town, correct?" defence lawyer Curtis Sok said. "It's conscionable a small much than 20 miles, but yes," retired Fresno County Sheriff's Office Detective Benjamin Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez's grounds came arsenic prosecutors made their lawsuit to the justice for the 2nd day.

The Fresno County District Attorney's Office has charged Mata with 1 number of execution and is present trying to beryllium that determination is capable grounds for the lawsuit to spell to trial.

Mata has pleaded not blameworthy to the execution charge. He antecedently said helium was not blameworthy by crushed of insanity.

While Mata has undergone astatine slightest 2 intelligence wellness evaluations, his lawyer focused immoderate of his questioning connected Mata's medicine astatine the clip of the crime.

"He told you that he's taking meds for schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression?" Sok said. "He didn't notation schizophrenia, but helium did accidental anxiety, depression, and bipolar," Gonzalez said.

The detective said respective times that Mata rambled during his interrogation with authorities aft the deadly incident.

During his cross-examination, the defence lawyer asked Gonzalez what Mata's older member told investigators.

"But helium besides told you he's ne'er seen Jose go convulsive with Maria, meaning - referring to his mother?" Sok said. "Correct," Gonzalez said.

Wednesday's passionate back-and-forth came a time aft the justice heard graphic and revealing grounds astir however Elias died. On Tuesday, different detective said Elias inactive had a leaf successful her thorax and a powerfulness cord astir her cervix erstwhile a coroner examined her.

Before the justice tin determine if determination is capable grounds for Mata to spell to trial, prosecutors accidental they program connected calling much witnesses to the stand.