PORT HURON, MI. (AP) -- A 91-year-old Michigan man accused of strangling his 87-year-old wife has been found mentally incompetent at an early stage of the case. A St. Clair County judge made the ruling Monday, after Benno Zoch was evaluated last week by experts.
Defense lawyer Michael West says Zoch probably will be taken to a state hospital in Caro. He'll be evaluated after 90 days.
West says Zoch doesn't fully understand what happened and can't assist in his defense. The murder charge could be dropped if his mental health doesn't improve in 15 months.
Taimi Zoch was found strangled at their apartment in Fort Gratiot, near Port Huron, on Nov. 27. West says Zoch tried to kill himself by cutting his wrists.
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