An 11-year-old Lakeside boy will not stand trial in the stabbing death of his 12-year-old best friend, a judge ruled Tuesday.
The boy, who was 10 years old at the time of the incident, faced a murder charge for the death of Ryan Carter, whom he allegedly stabbed while playing in their neighborhood in January.
The boy appeared in court for the competency hearing Tuesday.
The judge said the boy suffers from mental health and developmental disability issues as a result of fetal alcohol syndrome. He will not stand trial for at least a year.
Victor Barr, a Deputy District Attorney said it's not uncommon for someone of his age to be found mentally incompetent to stand trial.
"What happens now is that the case is essentially put in hibernation for about a year while the minor works on efforts toward attaining competency through treatment, and, quite frankly, getting older," Barr said.
The boy has been in custody since January, and will stay at a residential treatment facility for the next year, as opposed to juvenile hall.
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At the next hearing, the judge will hear from probation officers and Barr regarding what type of facility will be used to treat the boy.
"Everybody will be looking for the right place that offers the right treatment for this particular minor, and also is as close as possible to San Diego so that his mother can see him," Barr said.
It is NBC 7 San Diego's policy not to name minors accused of a crime.
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