Is a defendant competent to stand trial?

Undeterred, defendant also claims that his behavior during the course of trial placed the court on notice that competency might be at issue. Defendant's behavior was inappropriate and insulting to the court, to witnesses and to the jury. For example, defendant laughed during witness testimony. But, as already noted, competence to stand trial is not at issue if a defendant simply exhibits "bizarre, paranoid behavior, strange words, or a preexisting psychiatric condition that has little bearing on the question of whether the defendant can assist his defense counsel." (People v. Ramos, supra, 34 Cal.4th at p. 508.) In the trial court's view, defendant's disruptive conduct was an attempt to manipulate the system and delay trial. We agree. But his actions did not raise a question of his competency to stand trial.