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VERNAL — A judge has put the murder case against a Uintah County man accused of killing his brother on hold until doctors can restore the man's mental competency.
Judge Clark McClellan signed an order Wednesday committing Craig Anthony Antonio to the Utah State Hospital for "competency restoration services." The order was issued based on a pair of competency evaluations performed on Antonio after his arrest in the shooting death of his younger brother, Tyson Marcartin Antonio.
The psychologists who performed the evaluations reached differing opinions about whether Craig Antonio is presently capable of understanding the possible penalty he would face if he were convicted of murder, according to McClellan's order. They also disagreed about whether Antonio could "testify relevantly" on his own behalf if called to do so.
The psychologists did, however, agree that Antonio's ability to aid his attorney in preparing his own defense is currently "diminished," McClellan wrote. The psychologists also agreed that treatment at the state hospital would likely restore Antonio to competency, the judge's order states.
Antonio is accused of shooting his 23-year-old brother once in the head on April 11 during an argument that happened while the two were apparently under the influence of methamphetamine, according to charging documents.
The shooting was discovered by police after the Antonios' mother called 911 to report that she'd found her younger son dead in her home. One of the responding officers noticed injuries to Tyson Antonio's head and believed his death was "criminal in nature," investigators said.
Detectives said they recovered a .44 magnum revolver, a "severely modified Mossberg .22 rifle" and a spent .22-caliber cartridge case from a jacket Craig Antonio left at the house. During an initial interview, Craig Antonio told officers the revolver belonged to his brother, police said.
An autopsy performed on Tyson Antonio two days after his death showed he was killed by a single shot to the head from small-caliber weapon, the charges state. His death was ruled a homicide.
Police interviewed Craig Antonio a second time on the day of his brother's autopsy. He allegedly told detectives he shot his brother in the head with the modified .22-caliber rifle during an argument, the charges state.
Antonio is charged with murder, a first-degree felony. If convicted, he faces a mandatory sentence of 15 years to life in prison.
