Accused killer of 2
found fit to stand trial

An insanity defense remains
an option for the Kailua defendant

A Kailua man accused of causing the deaths of his mother and aunt in April 2004 by stabbing them and setting them ablaze has been found fit to go to trial.

Micah White: He is accused of stabbing his mom and aunt and setting them on fire

Circuit Judge Virginia Crandall found Micah White, 21, fit to proceed yesterday based on the reports of two psychologists and a psychiatrist who examined him for fitness as well as penal responsibility.

White does not deny what he did, but has notified the court that he will be seeking an acquittal based on the insanity defense.

"Our position has always been Micah's fit to go to trial and was not penally responsible at the time these incidents occurred," said Deputy Public Defender Susan Arnett.

The remaining issue left for the jury or a judge is whether White knew right from wrong and whether he could control his actions -- the legal definition of insanity.

All three examiners concluded that White was substantially impaired by a mental disorder that affected his ability to determine right from wrong. However, one of them concluded that White had control of his behavior at the time of the alleged offenses.

Trial is scheduled for the week of Aug. 1 and is expected to last at least three to four weeks.