today, just ruled that john lee cowell is competent to stand trial.uses debated over couple's mental state. how did he react? >> reporter: unlike other times in court, this time, he really didn't say a word. hill at emotionless. there was consideration of suspending the criminal proceedings because of his mental capacity but for now, that is not going to happen. what happened on this mccarter bart station perform has forever changed the family of john lee cowell. she was stabbed to death in july 2018. >> look a test here on christmas eve. it is hard but we are going to maintain as a family. >> reporter: that family comes to court time and time again to face john lee cowell, the man accused of murdering nia wilson and stabbing her sister. ferments, there have been different opinions over his mental state after three separate psychological evaluations, he was ruled to be competent to stand trial. recently, the defense said no symptoms like refusing to meet with doctors and attorneys made him unfit. but many aren't buying it. >> he is trying to do what y

support core judge cramped james kramer ordering the trial of john lee cowell to begin january 6th. he has not guilty, by reason of insanityity, but the judge has accused him of intentional lima lingering. >>> and president trump is in florida, down playing the tension with north korea. they threatened to send something to the u.s. depending what it is. >> we'll deal with it successfully, see has. everybody has surprises for me but let's see what happens. i handle them as they come along. >> what options are you considering, mr. president, if it does ends up being a long race missile test. maybe that's a nice present, a present where he sends me a beautiful vase as opposed to a missile test. i may get a vase from him. >>> lawmakers are out of town on the holiday recess but the impeachment trial is looming over will capitol hill. the president did not mince his words about house speaker nancy pelosi today. >> she hates the republican party. she hates all of the people that voted for me and the republican party. and she is desperate -- look, she got thrown out of speaker once b she lo

john lee cowell say transient who police say stabbed nia wilson to death at the macarthur b.a.r.t. station. a judge will decide if cowell will stand trial january 6th as scheduled for declare cowell mentally incompetent. the third option is to appoint another psychiatrist to examine cowell. the judge says there are signs that cowell is stalling to avoid a trial. >>> our investigative unit just finished a series that takes an in-depth look at what happens on b.a.r.t. we spent months riding trains and recording what we saw. watch the entire series now on nbcbayarea.com/derailed. >>> the women who call themselves moms for housing say they're staying put inside an empty oakland home and this morning they will speak out. you may remember last month when the women moved into a house without permission. they say they were protesting the homelessness crisis in the bay area. this morning, they will respond to a letter they received from a not-for-profit group called shelter 37. it claims the moms are preventing a needy family from moving into that home and they're taking jobs away from at-ri

the judge ruled today john lee cowell is mentally competent and will face a murder trial starting january 6. he was pleading not guilty by reason of insanity but at today's hearing the judge said he has refused to meet with two doctors , tasked with evaluating his mental state. instead he accused cowell of exaggerating his symptoms. >>> president trump is spending christmas in palm beach but that did not stop him from hiring off about his looming impeachment trial. the president even said he is ready to handle a possible christmas gift from north korea. >> on video conference call president trump grades of five military units deployed around the row. even taking their questions from abroad. like what he got mrs. trumper christmas. >> i think i will answer that by saying i'm still working on a christmas present. >> he shifted to a more pressing matters of national security. north korea promised a christmas present for president trump. a source that it could involve taking denuclearization off the table and abandoning negotiations with the u.s. >> maybe it's a present where he sends me a be

john lee cowell is a transient who police say stabbed nia wilson to death at the mcarthur braurts station. the judge will decide if he will stand trial on january 6th as scheduled or declare him mentally incompetent and the third option is to appoint another psychiatrist to examine cowell and the judge said there are signs cowell is stalling to avoid a trial. >>> our unit just finished a series about what happens on b.a.r.t. we spent months riding trains and recording what we saw. you could watch the entire series now on nbcbayarea.com/derailed. >>> a san jose church targeted by thieves just days before christmas. the lady of guadalupe church is still reeling after what happened. take a look at the pair of suspected thieves who stole a donation box with thousands of dollars inside. church-goers said it happened on saturday after baptism services. the money was for gifts for local children for christmas. >>> now to the impeachment standoff. this morning democrats and republicans are still battling over what a senate trial will look like in the new year. nbc's chief white house corresponden

john lee cowell charged with attempted murder for allegedly stabbing mia wilson and her sister.valuated by several psychiatrists, judge ordered another evaluation before the trial in january. >>> big change at uber, founder travis kalanick is cutting all ties with the company. former ceo resigning from the board of directors next week. sold more than $2 billion worth of shares and will sell remaining. forced to resign amid accusations of discrimination, sexual harassment and user policy violations. >>> four at 4:00. stories to let you know about today. "it's a wonderful life" may help people with dementia. may not remember the movies but listening to or singing along may stir up memories. hustle and bustle of the holidays can be chaotic and emotional connection to a movie can help patients feel connected had in festivities with friends and family. >> it's nostalgic, even those without dementia, and those with embedded, maybe can bring out. >> marathon of "a christmas story," get the good emotions back, think of the fun you had. >> maybe jog your memory. >> comforting, probably.

john lee cowell was charged for the murder of neil wilson and the attempted murder of her sister. again, it happened in the quarter bart station last summer., was found competent to stand trial in july but since then, the judge says he has been uncooperative refusing to talk with his attorney her doctors. the judge is expected to make a really tomorrow on whether he would stand trial or be found incompetent or face another psychiatric exam. >>> in the space it in mind, terrifying confrontation was caught on surveillance video. an armed robber attack the store clerk who managed to fight back. k tvs greatly spoke with the victim who says, his military training kicked in. >> reporter: this surveillance video shows the moment a man was pistol left. the owner access to armed men walked into the store just after 11:00 last night. one holding another employee at gunpoint in the back. the other, grabbing cash. >> lucky to be alive. i'm lucky my coworker is fine. >> reporter: visa consider, an air force veteran fought back. he reaches for a gun near the register. the robber pistol whips hi

authorities later arrested john lee cowell. first amendment coal i think so says the entire transcript should be unsealed, information has come out, kyle had a backpack with prescription drugs inside. >>> a man was charged in a high profile murder trial is a freeman this morning. the it is trick attorney announced he will not be retried for the murder of killing green, the father of lee's two children. the jury deliberated 13 days and acquitted lee but hung on two counts. the da's case was wakened once the star witness was found to have made false statements. >> my client was not guilty of this crime or anytime for that matter and i think he made a good judgment on this. i think if this case had been tried a hundred times that my client would have been not guilty a hundred times. >> district attorney stephen wagstaff believes the evidence is deficient. he decided to dismiss the case. if new evidence is found the case could be reopened. >>> our time is 5:07. let's get you to which need to go. sal is watching everything for you,

over the past few days, lawyers have gone back and forth arguing whether or not john lee cowell is fit to stand trial. after more of debate this morning, the judge ruled this trial will go on. wilson's family in court today as the judge said the evidence is not enough but out of an abundance of caution, the court will appoint another doctor to make a mental evaluation. that could affect the trial later but for now, those proceedings will continue. it makes it the fourth time his mental capacity has been evaluated. he may be faking or trying to delay or stop the trial now. but the defenses cowell has had a change in his mental symptoms refusing to meet with his attorney her doctors. he appeared motionless in court and shuffled out the ruling. nia wilson was stabbed to death july 2018. her sister was also hurt in the family has been in court in hopes of suing. >> have to be here so we have to be here. and make sure our daughter, sister, grandmother, gets justice. we all want justice. >> the family says this is especially difficult for them on christmas eve. but they are holding onto one

right now, john lee cowell is considered competent to stand trial. that event said he developed new mental symptoms and refused to meet with doctors but prosecutors say, he is faking it and trying to be the case. the judge ordered a fourth mental evaluation out of an abundance of caution. nia wilson was stabbed to death and her sister injured at the bart station in july 2018. today's the decision came in as a big relief for their family. >> we don't know what is going to happen. have to go see for ourselves and make sure our daughter, sister, granddaughter, and they all get there just is. we want justice for them. >> cowell would meet with a psychologist in january. criminal trial is expected to proceed early next year. >>> now to the weather, we take you live now at san francisco's union square this evening. you can see the closet rolled in over those holiday shoppers. we are already starting to see some sprinkles as well. >> similar story in south bay. this is what things look like earlier today i wasn't in a road. that is in san jose. things are v

john lee cowell is charged in the murder of neal wilson and the attempted murder of her sister at the macarthur b.a.r.t. station last summer. since then the judge says cowell has been uncooperative, refusing to speak with his attorney or doctors. the judge expected to make a ruling today on whether cowell will stand trial, be found incompetent or face another psychiatric exam. >>> one man died and four others lost their home when an apartment fire happened in san francisco's richmond district. the fire started in a four unit building on 16th avenue near cabrillo street yesterday afternoon. roger wilpitz says about 3:00 he heard his smoke alarm going off, he checked his apartment and didn't see anything until he started seeing smoke coming up from the heater vents. that made his realize there was probably a fire below his unit. he raced downstairs and began banging on the door of the man who lived downstairs. >> making a lot of noise. assumed after banging on the door for about a minute that he was definitely not there. >> wilpitz went outside to get the smoke out of his lungs and watc

authorities later arrested john lee cowell, his trial begins january 6th. the first amendment coalition argues the entire transcript should be unsealed because some information has arctic amount, such as the fact that he had a backpack with prescription drugs inside. >>> one of the trains hit and killed a 71-year-old man. this happened before 8:00 last night at a railway crossing near the new downtown station. investigators are looking into whether it was an accident or the man deliberately walked onto the tracks. the crossing signal was functioning normally. >>> sal is back, he will help you get where you need to go this morning. >> that's right, i wanted to avoid, i want to ask you guys to avoid 237, especially eastbound, westbound is the commute direction, this truck overturned between first and thinker and there is a lot of slow traffic. it's also making a massive 880 heading south from fremont to milpitas. this thing we have going on here is the next of the bay, there are alterman's. avoid using 237 across or even deal with 880 to milpitas. this is a l

john lee cowell is charged in the murder of mia wilson and the attempted murder of her sister at the macarthur b.a.r.t. station last summer. the judge says that cowell has been uncooperative, refusing to speak with his attorney or doctors. a judge is expected to make a ruling today as to whether cowell will stand trial, be found incompetent or face another psychiatric exam. >>> the family is increasing the reward and hoping to get new leads. the reward for information on 20-year-old jonathan vandobalia has increased to $10,000. he left his home on may 3rd heading to a soccer tournament. his car was found on the san mateo bridge the next day. investigators can't say if he's the one who drove it there. his family says he was not suicidal. >>> today some homeless mothers staying in a vacant house in west oakland will hold a christmas eve news conference. they will discuss their demands in response to the real estate company that owns the house which has told them to leave. the moms filed a claim of right of possession and a court hearing scheduled for next monday. their attorney says th

john lee couple, beginning on january 6th. now the first amendment coalition argues that the entire transcript should be unsealed, they say there is important information including cowell having a backpack filled with prescription drugs. >>> now asking a state appeals court to reverse a lower court areas cut order to turn over the records to news organizations. a new law took effect this year, that was designed to guarantee public access to records involving investigations into officer involved shootings. but basara says local agencies are required to turn over those records and that his office doesn't have the resources to respond to such requesting. >>> 6:16, a new law to protect renters in california takes effect january 1st. it limits annual rent increase he to 5% plus inflation. with the new limit approaching, legal experts say some landlords are trying to push out some tenants by the end of the year. cate hudson of walnut creek says her landlord demanded an extra $500 or she would have to move out by the end of the month. she moved in six months ago and says her landlord insisted that she sign a six month lease, not the full year that she wanted. >> i went to oth