Penn Township man accused of killing father, aunt facing competency exam after tantrum in court

A Westmoreland County judge on Thursday ordered a competency exam for a Penn Township man accused in a double homicide following his removal from a courtroom after shouting obscenities and insults at a sheriff’s deputy.

Neal M. Hubish, 41, was in the courtroom for a few minutes before he grew angry.

Two deputies brought Hubish into Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio’s courtroom for a pretrial conference, and he peered around the pair, apparently looking to see who was in the gallery. The deputies stood behind Hubish while he was seated, waiting for his attorney and prosecutors who were having a conversation with the judge.

“Get your (expletive) hands off of me (expletive),” Hubish said to one of the deputies.

Hubish started directing insults at the deputy, pushed a wooden chair at them and tried to pull away while asking Bilik-DeFazio to have the deputy removed from the courtroom. Defense attorney Brian Aston and Bilik-DeFazio unsuccessfully attempted to get Hubish, who is accused of fatally stabbing his father and aunt, to calm down.

“I don’t have to get along with everybody. Get that in your head,” he said while being led away to a holding cell before his hearing started.

“Mr. Hubish is obviously very upset, and, despite my deputy’s very calm demeanor at all times, somehow, we had to remove him from the courtroom just for everybody’s safety,” Bilik-DeFazio said.

Hubish is charged with two counts of homicide in the Nov. 9 deaths of Arthur Hubish, 71, and Maria Puskarich, 76, inside their Burrell Hill Road home. Arthur Hubish was pronounced dead at the scene, while Puskarich died on her way to Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg, police said.

Neal Hubish initially told investigators he awoke to discover the pair wounded after hearing them arguing. He later admitted to police he repeatedly stabbed his father and aunt, according to court papers.

Hubish has a history of violence and mental health issues.

Bilik-DeFazio ordered Hubish be transferred to Torrance State Hospital in Derry Township and undergo a competency evaluation.

“Somebody that behaves like that, it’s pretty apparent to me that there’s something pretty serious that needs addressed,” she said.

Aston expressed concern Hubish might not fully cooperate with the evaluation.

“I believe that Mr. Hubish somehow has learned and knows the right things to say,” Aston said.

Prosecutors have shared evidence with the defense, and the case will be scheduled for an update in a few months. Aston said he has not been able to have a meaningful conversation with Hubish to prepare his defense.

“He’s just been giving me buzz words back,” he said.