The criminal case tied to Lafayette’s shocking March homicide hit a major procedural pause Monday after a Contra Costa County judge suspended proceedings and set the matter for a competency-related hearing on Tuesday, April 21.
According to Patch, the pause came after defense counsel raised doubts about whether defendant David Swank Prince is competent to stand trial. Judge Terri Mockler then halted the case and scheduled the next hearing so the court can appoint a doctor to evaluate Prince’s mental condition. (Patch)
Prince, 35, is charged in the killing of 34-year-old Christopher Jaber, who authorities say was attacked with a hatchet at a Lafayette property on March 21. The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office previously said the killing appeared to be a “targeted act,” though investigators were still working to determine motive and whether Prince and Jaber knew each other.
That means the case is no longer simply moving forward on a normal felony timeline. Instead, the immediate focus has shifted to whether Prince is legally able to understand the proceedings and assist in his own defense — a threshold issue that must be resolved before the prosecution can continue in the usual way. That competency hearing is now set for April 21 in Martinez.
For Lafayette residents following the case closely, this is a significant development because it could delay the next major courtroom steps while the evaluation process plays out. The pause does not mean the charges were dropped. It means the court has temporarily stopped the case from advancing until the competency question is addressed.
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What the case is about
The case stems from a March 21 homicide on Westminster Place in Lafayette. Authorities said a relative of Jaber called 911 to report a suspicious person with a hatchet in the backyard area of the property, where Jaber lived in an accessory dwelling unit. Police detained Prince a short distance away, and prosecutors later charged him with murder.
The Contra Costa DA’s office said Prince is charged under Penal Code 187(a), along with a weapon enhancement under Penal Code 12022(b)(1) alleging use of a deadly or dangerous weapon. We previously confirmed the felony case was filed in Contra Costa County Superior Court under case number 01-26-01746 and listed as an in-custody matter.
Why this pause matters
Competency issues are separate from guilt or innocence. When a judge suspends proceedings over competency concerns, the court is essentially determining whether the defendant can meaningfully participate in the case.
If the court finds the defendant competent, the murder case resumes. If not, the case can remain paused while the issue is addressed through court-ordered procedures. The key point for now is that Monday’s hearing did not resolve the murder charge itself — it changed the track the case is taking, at least temporarily.
What happens next
The next scheduled step is Tuesday, April 21, when the court is expected to appoint a doctor to evaluate Prince’s mental condition, according to Patch’s report from the hearing. That evaluation is likely to shape how quickly the homicide case moves from here.
We’ll be watching for the results of that hearing and any new court filings that clarify how long the pause may last. Make sure to join the free 925 News newsletter so we can keep you updated.
