A man accused of killing a young Ukrainian refugee in the United States, in a case that has sparked outrage and strong political reactions, has been declared mentally unfit to stand trial, reports AFP.
The alleged killer of the Ukrainian refugee was declared unfit to stand trial PHOTO: Video capture
DeCarlos Brown, 35 years old, is accused of fatally stabbing 23-year-old Irina Zaruţka while she was returning from work on a streetcar in Charlotte, North Carolina, in August 2025. The incident generated great emotion across the country, and the case was widely publicized, causing reactions at the political level as well.
Psychiatrists considered DeCarlos Brown to be “unable” to appear in court, and his attorney requested a delay in the trial, according to WBTV and other local outlets. At the same time, he is also being prosecuted at the federal level, where the court found him unfit to stand trial.
“DeCarlos Brown is currently being held by federal authorities on a federal charge. Proceedings initiated at the state level, including any determination of his ability to stand trial in that proceeding, are entirely distinct“, stated the office of the federal prosecutor in North Carolina, according to News.ro.
Political reactions and media coverage
The case caused a wave of indignation, especially in conservative circles. President Donald Trump called the alleged murderer “animal” and asked, on his Truth Social platform, “a quick process” and the death penalty for it.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt described DeCarlos Brown, who has several prior convictions, as a “monster” which “should have been closed”.
Footage of the crime, captured on surveillance cameras, was widely circulated by conservative media and social media accounts, used to support Trump's tough-on-crime policies. Since his return to power, the US president has sent or attempted to send troops to several Democratic-led cities, including Washington and Los Angeles, arguing that the measure would be part of the fight against crime.
