Santa Rosa man committed to hospital in father’s sledgehammer death

A Santa Rosa man accused of killing his father with a sledgehammer was committed Thursday to Napa State Hospital.

Angelo Lancaster, 34, had previously been deemed incompetent to stand trial in the Oct. 20 slaying of his father, Simran Khalsa, 64.

Police said he broke down the front door of his father’s Wright Street home, ran upstairs and strangled him before bashing his head with the sledgehammer.

Lancaster, also known by his Sikh name of Kartar Khalsa, was arrested at the scene.

A judge in November suspended criminal proceedings against him so doctors could see if he was capable of assisting in his own defense.

His lawyer, Daniel Clymo, said Lancaster has a history of mental illness. Judge Shelley Averill committed him to Napa State Hospital for a maximum of three years.

If his competence is restored, Lancaster will be brought back to face trial on a murder charge.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.