Grad student charged with killing UNC professor not fit for trial, judge rules

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill graduate student who is accused of killing his professor isn’t fit to stand trial, a judge ruled Monday.

The ruling came as a result of two separate mental evaluations requested by Tailei Qi’s attorneys, WTVD reports.

Qi was determined to be incapable of standing trial due to what Orange County Superior Court Judge Alyson Grine said was likely untreated schizophrenia.

“Qi demonstrated delusional thinking, experienced auditory hallucinations, engaged in self-harm in the detention center and showed fragmented thought processes that impeded his communication,” Judge Grine said.

Qi is accused of fatally shooting Dr. Zijie Yan inside a laboratory on UNC’s campus on Aug. 28.

Qi requested his current attorneys during his last hearing back in September. That was also when his attorneys asked for the competency evaluation.

Grine said the mental illness means Qi is unable to help with his defense, understand his status, and understand how the court process works.

The judge ruled that Qi will be taken to a hospital in Butner to be committed for psychological treatment, according to WTVD.

The district attorney previously said they won’t seek the death penalty against Qi.

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