Troubled actress Amanda Bynes is suffering from severe mental illness and is unfit to stand trial, according to the attorney representing her in her DUI case.
The 27-year-old star was supposed to appear in court yesterday in the DUI case, following her arrest in West Hollywood, Calif., back in April 2012.
Amanda’s lawyer, Rich Hutton, told the judge that his client "does not have the mental capacity" to even understand the nature of the proceedings.
In other words, she has no idea what she’s being charged with, nor can she grasp the consequences. If you assume that’s true, it’s both amazing and sad.
The judge transferred the matter to the mental health court.
After reviewing the case details, a judge in that court will conduct a hearing to determine Amanda Bynes’ mental illness and assess her competency.
She is in long-term treatment and under conservatorship.
While her future is far from certain, she spend another year in treatment under involuntary psychiatric hold after a judge extended the order keeping her there.
Clearly this is far more serious than anyone imagined.