Fresno man charged with killing brother refuses mental health check, fires lawyers
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Vulich refused to meet with the court-appointed psychiatrist.
- Judge Wells said he'd reinstate proceedings without a competency opinion.
- Vulich faces 40-years-to-life if convicted for the 2020 shooting of his brother.
Norman Vulich, who is accused of killing his brother in a dispute over the family’s raisin ranch, told a judge Thursday that he refuses to be examined by a court-appointed psychologist and wants to fire his private lawyers.
The 63-year-old Vulich was in court for the results of the mental health evaluation requested by his attorneys, Mark Coleman and Daniel Harralson. The lawyers believe Vulich may not be mentally competent to go to trial and want him evaluated.
Fresno County sheriff’s detectives said Vulich fatally shot Jerry Vulich on Oct. 23, 2020, after objecting to his 68-year-old brother’s decision to bulldoze the family’s 40-acre raisin farm. Norman Vulich and a house full of stray cats were living at the farm.
The shooting happened on the family’s farming property near Manning and Fruit avenues, just southwest of Easton.
If convicted, Vulich faces 40 years to life in prison.
Coleman explained to Superior Court Judge Ryan Wells that Vulich refused to meet with the psychiatrist appointed by the court to evaluate him.
Wells was expected to rule, based on the doctor’s report, whether to proceed with a trial or seek mental health treatment for Vulich.
Without an opinion on Vulich’s competency, Wells said he was left with little choice but to reinstate the criminal proceedings against Vulich.
Wells also asked the defendant why he wanted to fire his attorneys, both who are experienced in criminal defense.
In a soft voice, Vulich answered: “I am unhappy with their representation and I understood that our contract to be at will. ...”
Vulich was previously represented by a public defender and it remains to be seen if he will hire another legal team.
Wells set a hearing date next week to allow Coleman and Harralson to officially withdraw from representing Vulich.
Prosecuting the case is Kaitlin Drake, senior deputy district attorney.
Family members of Jerry Vulich’s were disappointed with another delay in the nearly six-year criminal case.
“It’s another delay and it’s like he is playing a game,” said Nicole Vulich, Jerry Vulich’s daughter.
Sharon Vulich, Nicole’s mother and Jerry’s wife, agreed that Norman is purposely delaying his murder trial. “He is a smart man and he knows exactly what is going on,” she said.
Norman Vulich already has lost one legal battle in civil court. A Fresno County jury awarded his brother’s family $2.7 million in a wrongful-death lawsuit in 2024.
