Pol Danilov, arrested last October following a brutal attack on an elderly woman in a Homewood grocery store, is not fit for trial, a court-ordered psychiatric examination states.
Danilov, 26, of the 18400 block of Harwood Avenue in Homewood, was charged with attempted murder and a hate crime following the Oct. 10 attack at Walt’s, 2345 183rd St., in which he allegedly stabbed a 79-year-old woman. It is believed the attack was unprovoked.
At a court appearance Friday, Cook County Associate Judge Michelle Pitman said that the results of an examination ordered last month was returned to her courtroom earlier that day. Neither the judge nor prosecutors or Danilov’s court-appointed attorney had a chance to look at the document, which says he is not fit for trial.
Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Virginia Bigane asked that Danilov be examined a second time and Pitman granted her request. His next court appearance is set for March 16 in the Markham courthouse. By then, the prosecution and defense are expected to have had time to review the examinations.
According to published reports, prosecutors said the hate crime charge was brought against Danilov because he admitted he stabbed the victim because she is African-American. He is being held at Cook County Jail with a bail of $500,000.
Following Friday’s brief court appearance, Danilov, dressed in a yellow prison jump suit, yelled as he was escorted into the adjacent holding area. Sounds of a disturbance could be held from the holding area and several county police officers hurried into the room. Shouts could be heard from the holding area for a few more moments before quiet was restored.