Austin Lynch, the Long Island man accused of fatally shooting his former girlfriend in a botched murder-suicide, is mentally fit to stand trial, a Suffolk County judge ruled Thursday.
Lynch is charged with killing SUNY Oneonta student Emily Finn on Nov. 26, after she ended their relationship. He was initially deemed psychologically unfit for trial following an evaluation in January. But after two additional assessments, Judge Anthony Senft determined that Lynch is competent to face a jury.
Lynch and Finn had been high school sweethearts. Their relationship began to deteriorate after Finn left for SUNY Oneonta, eventually leading her to break up with him.
During Thanksgiving break, Finn met with her former boyfriend to talk, prosecutors said. Lynch allegedly shot and killed the promising college student before turning the weapon on himself. He survived the attempted suicide.
Lynch was arrested and underwent three psychological evaluations. The first concluded that he could not stand trial, while the second found him competent to proceed.
In July, prosecutors brought additional charges alleging that Lynch attempted to recruit a fellow inmate to rob Finn’s family. Senft then ordered a third evaluation, which would determine whether the case could move forward.
The judge ruled Thursday that Lynch will stand trial. He is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 19.
