Published Oct 09, 2026 | 11:04 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 09, 2026 | 11:06 PM
Anila Baby
In a fresh development in the double-murder case involving two Keralam women in Milpitas, a court has suspended criminal proceedings against 32-year-old Anila Baby, the accused, after her defence raised concerns about her mental competency to stand trial.
The case has been referred to the mental health calendar of the Santa Clara County Superior Court for an assessment of Baby’s ability to understand the proceedings and assist in her defence.
During the hearing on October 8, defence attorney Shawn George told the court that his interactions with Baby had raised concerns about her competency to stand trial.
In a statement following the hearing, George said he would return to court after the appointed evaluators submitted their findings.
Deputy District Attorney Marisa McKeown said the prosecution would await the outcome of the court-ordered evaluation.
The next hearing is scheduled for October 16.
The criminal proceedings are unlikely to resume until the competency issue is resolved, although no timeline has been set. The assessment process could take several months and involve court-approved medical experts examining Baby and submitting their findings to the court.
Anila Baby, who is also from Keralam, was arrested by the Milpitas Police on August 28, shortly after she allegedly committed the murders of two women, who were reportedly her close friends and lived in the same apartment complex.
One of them, Anjana Hari (35), was killed after being hit by a car driven by Anila, leading to her arrest by the police. The other woman, Ann Mary Mathew (40), was found dead in her apartment with stab wounds on her body.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
