‘Top Gun’ star James Handy murder case takes surprising turn

The man accused of fatally stabbing beloved actor James Handy, 44-year old Michael Gledhill, has been deemed mentally “unfit” to stand trial by a Los Angeles judge.

In a highly unusual turn of events, which has halted criminal proceedings, Michael reportedly called the police himself following Handy’s death, as he stated to officers, "I am the son of man, I just killed the man of sin."

The 81-year-old, who suffered a fatal stabbing outside his home in Tarzana, was discovered “unconscious and suffering," according to a press release from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD.)

Michael, the adult son of James’s longtime partner, Wendy, was not present at his competency hearing on Monday, June 22, as he "apparently declined transportation" from jail.

One of his two public defenders told Judge Anthony J. Mohr and his defence team were there on his behalf.

Following a psychiatric evaluation reviewed by the judge, it was determined that the actor's alleged killer is currently unable to understand the legal proceedings against him and therefore assist in his own defence.

Superior Court Judge Maria Cavalluzzi also declared Michael incompetent to stand trial and ordered him to undergo forced medicated treatment for one year, as deemed appropriate by a clinical psychiatrist.

Gledhill's father and stepmother were in court on Monday, but not his mother Wendy Gledhill, who was James’s girlfriend.

Despite opting out of her son's public hearing, she explained to TMZ that Michael was diagnosed with schizophrenia in July 2025, and had been taking his prescribed medication, but stopped about a week before James was fatally stabbed on June 3.

In a tearful statement to the California Post, Wendy told reporters, "I'm just trying to make it through one day at a time, a minute at a time. I loved James and my son. I still can't believe it… I can't believe my son did it."

The case has now been transferred to mental health proceedings while officials determine the next steps.

If treatment successfully restores Michael's competency, prosecutors could eventually move forward with a murder trial.