A 17-year-old boy accused of raping and killing his 6-year-old neighbor will go to trial, after his attorneys told a judge Friday that he’s mentally competent to stand trial.
Gabriel Gaeta is suspected of raping and killing Jenise Wright, a neighbor of his at a Bremerton mobile home park. Officials searched for Wright for days, before finding her dumped in the woods near her home.
Before his arrest, KIRO 7 saw Gaeta among the crowds showing concern at a vigil for Wright. KIRO 7 also interviewed his mother, while the search was in progress.
On Friday, his parents did not have any comment for KIRO 7, and neither did the family of Jenise Wright.
Neighbors from the same mobile home park attended the hearing, saying they were deeply shaken by the incident and wanted to see Gaeta face a jury.
PORT ORCHARD, Wash. — Now that Gaeta has been determined competent, his trial date has been set for Dec. 22, a day before his 18th birthday.
Prosecutor Chad Enright said, “Competency depends on ‘Can you assist your attorney in your own defense,’ and ‘Do you understand the nature of the charges against you’. [His attorneys have] had the opportunity to meet with him, they’ve gone over the charges with him; they’ve come forward to say he is competent. State believes he’s competent, and we’re happy to get that issue taken care of and put away.”
If convicted, Gaeta will face life in prison.
KIRO
