In a Manhattan court, Martial Simon erupted as prosecutors asserted his mental fitness for trial in the case of Michelle Go’s death, who he is accused of shoving into an oncoming subway train in Times Square.
Initially held at a maximum-security state psychiatric facility on Wards Island, Simon has been deemed mentally fit to face murder charges following a recent evaluation.
However, Simon, 63, displayed agitation during the hearing, addressing Judge Althea Drysdale before outbursts led to his removal by court officers, exclaiming his disdain.
His defense attorney highlighted ongoing delusions, including beliefs in supernatural intervention, as evidenced in a staff report from the Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center.
Despite prosecutors’ assertions of Simon’s competency, his attorney argued for a comprehensive evaluation by defense experts, contesting the prosecution’s findings and citing recent records from Rikers Island indicating persistent delusional behavior.
Simon was transferred to the state Department of Mental Health and Hygiene in April 2022 after being deemed unfit for trial, only to return to Rikers Island upon passing a mental health examination, sparking ethical concerns according to his defense.
Simon’s family revealed his long battle with schizophrenia and extensive history of mental health treatment preceding the tragic incident on January 9, 2022.
Authorities allege Simon confessed to randomly pushing Go, a senior manager at Deloitte and advocate for the homeless, off the platform at Times Square station, resulting in her death.
Charged with second-degree murder, Simon’s case underscores the intersection of mental health and criminal justice, highlighting the challenges in adjudicating cases involving individuals with severe mental illness.
