Brooklyn rabbi accused of murder-for-hire ruled incompetent

The Brooklyn rabbi accused masterminding the murder of two men in Newburgh has been found incompetent to stand trial. Psychologists say the suspect, Victor Koltun, understands legal proceedings, but

News 12 Staff

May 20, 2014, 8:09 PM

Updated 3,763 days ago

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The Brooklyn rabbi accused masterminding the murder of two men in Newburgh has been found incompetent to stand trial.
Psychologists say the suspect, Victor Koltun, understands legal proceedings, but due to uncontrolled manic symptoms, he's does not have the rational capacity to aid in his own defense. The case against Koltun cannot proceed until he's found competent.
Prosecutors say Koltun was behind the murder-for-hire plot that led to the shooting deaths of former cop Francis Piscopo and his nephew, Gerald Piscopo, last year.
Two other suspects were convicted in the murders. Frank Lewis, the gunman, received up to 25 years in prison, and a second man, Craig Fennell, got up to 10 years.
Koltun is expected to be taken to a psychiatric facility for treatment and is scheduled to be back in Orange County Court on Jan. 13.
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