A radiologist of Indian origin primarily based in California who He deliberately drove his Tesla automobile off a 330-foot cliff along with his household inside is not going to be judged. Dharmesh Patel, father of two youngsters, aged 4 and seven, will meet along with his household because the courtroom understood that this was considered one of his psychological well being episodes.
A courtroom granted Patel, 42, a psychological well being diversion resulting from proof that he suffers from main depressive dysfunction, NBC Information mentioned, citing the San Mateo County District Lawyer’s Workplace.
On January 2, 2023, the Indian-born radiologist drove his automobile off the Pacific Coast Freeway onto a 330-foot cliff at Satan’s Slide in San Mateo County. His spouse and his two youngsters had been touring within the car. All 4 within the automobile survived the accident.
On the hospital, Patel’s household allegedly advised paramedics that he “tried to kill us,” in response to a Every day Mail report, however his spouse later pleaded with authorities to let her husband come dwelling.
His spouse, Neha Patel, pleaded with prosecutors to drop tried homicide costs in opposition to Dharmesh.
Neha Patel’s emotional testimony in courtroom highlighted the ache the household was enduring. She advised the courtroom that her younger son requested her: “When will daddy be coming dwelling?”
Charged with three counts of tried homicide, Dharmesh Patel was jailed.
Patel pleaded not responsible to 3 counts of tried homicide.
The courtroom will decide the main points of Patel’s launch on July 1.
QUALIFIED PATEL FOR MENTAL HEALTH DEVIATION
San Mateo Superior Court docket Decide Susan Jakubowski decided that Patel certified for psychological well being diversion resulting from his situation, stating that the proposed remedy plan would successfully tackle his wants, in response to a information launch from the U.S. legal professional’s workplace. district.
“Weighing all components, the courtroom decided that the defendant was match and granted the protection’s request for diversion on psychological well being grounds,” in response to the assertion, NBC Information reported.
Patel should stay in jail for a number of extra weeks earlier than being launched to reside along with his dad and mom in Belmont.
He can be beneath home arrest for 2 months, monitored with an ankle bracelet and should attend weekly courtroom classes to obtain progress reviews. He’s additionally prohibited from driving, possessing weapons, ingesting alcohol and utilizing medicine.
Psychologists testified that Patel’s psychological well being deteriorated quickly earlier than the accident, culminating in a psychotic episode.
Patel feared his youngsters had been being intercourse trafficked and was overcome with paranoia about varied international points. Knowledgeable witness Dr. Mark Patterson defined that Patel’s delusional ideas led him to consider he was defending his household, the Every day Mail reported.
“It was paranoid and delusional pondering for him to behave at the moment to guard his household from a worse destiny,” Patterson mentioned. “He was involved that his youngsters had been vulnerable to being kidnapped, presumably for sexual abuse… There have been considerations across the fentanyl explosion on this nation and the battle in Ukraine.”
Patel’s spouse, Neha, known as for his launch, stressing that the household wanted him. “We want him in our life,” she mentioned. “We’re not a household with out him.” She promised to hunt assist if essential and guaranteed the courtroom that issues could be totally different upon his return.
Patel’s legal professional, Joshua Bentley, argued that Patel had no felony document and was a loving household man who skilled a sudden psychological well being disaster.
“This wasn’t him. It was a 100% psychological well being episode,” Bentley mentioned, noting that Patel has been in remission for greater than a 12 months, The Every day Mail reported.
Nevertheless, prosecutors argued that Patel’s actions posed a big threat to his household and the group.
Deputy District Lawyer Dominique Davis highlighted the seriousness of the fees and the potential hazard of releasing Patel.
“As his spouse and two youngsters had been falling off that cliff, the scariest factor is that nobody noticed it coming,” Davis mentioned.
The courtroom heard that Patel had initially claimed the accident was resulting from a puncture however later mentioned his psychological well being issues with protection docs.
Prosecutors offered their very own professional, who identified Patel with a extra extreme schizoaffective dysfunction, treatable with remedy.
Regardless of the prosecution’s considerations, the decide dominated in favor of psychological well being diversion and emphasised the significance of Patel receiving remedy.
Patel’s case will proceed to be monitored and weekly updates can be supplied to the courtroom.
Patel will seem in courtroom on July 1 to finalize the main points of his launch and his remedy plan.
