La Habra mother accused of killing baby appears in court

SANTA ANA — The defense for an accused of killing her infant son by throwing him from the fourth floor of a hospital parking structure argued Friday that she was not mentally competent to stand trial, officials said.
Sonia Hermosillo, 31, of La Habra is charged with murder and child abuse in connection with the Aug. 22 death of her 7-month-old son, Noe Medina Jr., at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
At an arraignment hearing Friday, she did not enter a plea, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s spokeswoman Farrah Emami said.
“The defense indicated at the hearing today that they believe she is not mentally fit to assist in her own defense,” Emami said.
A mental competency hearing was scheduled Nov. 18 in Santa Ana Superior Court.
Hermosillo was arrested several hours after the incident after police spotted her driving by the scene, officials said.
Noe Medina Jr. suffered from plagiocephaly, known as flat-head syndrome, in addition to congenital muscular torticollis which causes the head to twist to one side.
His mother reportedly suffered from severe post partum depression.
A motive in the killing has not been released.
Her husband, Noe Medina, has reportedly said he believed his wife never accepted their son because of his medical problems.

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