Son charged in killing of Grammy-nominated Jubilant Sykes asks for mum
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The son charged with the murder of Grammy-nominated opera singer Jubilant Sykes made an appearance in a Los Angeles courtroom, where he interrupted prosecutors by asking for his mother. The judge ruled that he remain in custody without bail.

Micah Sykes, 31, is accused of fatally stabbing his 71-year-old father at their family home in Santa Monica earlier this week.

During Thursday’s court session, Micah interrupted Deputy District Attorney Cesar Rodriguez, claiming, “I don’t see my mother here… This person’s not telling the truth whatsoever.”

This disruption occurred as prosecutors pushed for a $2 million bail, a motion that Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Theresa R. McGonigle approved.

At the defense’s request, Micah’s arraignment has been postponed to February 11.

Rodriguez told the court that Micah’s mother witnessed the fatal attack and is now protected under a court-issued no-contact order barring Micah from communicating with her.

The prosecutor also cited concerns about Micah’s mental health, telling the judge the defendant had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was supposed to be medicated but was either under-medicated or not following doctors’ orders.

The son of Jubilant Skykes, Micah Sykes, 31, pictured in court, and asked for his mother as a judge ordered him held without bail during a court hearing

The son of Jubilant Skykes, Micah Sykes, 31, pictured in court, and asked for his mother as a judge ordered him held without bail during a court hearing

Grammy-nominated opera star Jubilant Sykes was fatally stabbed inside his Santa Monica home on Monday night

Grammy-nominated opera star Jubilant Sykes was fatally stabbed inside his Santa Monica home on Monday night

In court, Micah, seen top left, is said to have asked for his mother, pictured center

In court, Micah, seen top left, is said to have asked for his mother, pictured center

Rodriguez said Micah is homeless and has nowhere to stay other than his parents’ home. 

He also told the court that other family members were present and wanted it communicated that they love the defendant.

Police say Jubilant Sykes, 71, was killed on Monday night after officers responded to an assault call at a home in the 1700 block of Delaware Avenue around 9:20pm,

According to the Santa Monica Police Department, officers arrived to find Sykes suffering from ‘critical injuries consistent with a stabbing.’ 

He was pronounced dead at the scene. A weapon was recovered inside the home.

Micah Sykes was found inside the residence and taken into custody without incident, police said. 

Authorities described the killing as a domestic incident and said there was no ongoing threat to the community.

Prosecutors told the court that Jubilant’s wife was inside the home at the time of the attack and was the one who called 911. The court later ordered that Micah have no contact with her.

Micah Sykes was found inside the home and taken into custody without incident, police said

Micah Sykes was found inside the home and taken into custody without incident, police said

In the days since the killing, troubling allegations from Micah's past have resurfaced. A restraining order was issued after Micah, top left, was accused of violent and erratic behavior

In the days since the killing, troubling allegations from Micah’s past have resurfaced. A restraining order was issued after Micah, top left, was accused of violent and erratic behavior

In the days since the killing, troubling allegations from Micah’s past have resurfaced.

According to a restraining order obtained by TMZ, Micah was accused years earlier of violent and erratic behavior.

In 2017, a woman named Sarah Bennett sought a restraining order against him on behalf of herself and several friends following an alleged break-in attempt at a friend’s family home.

In the filing, Bennett alleged Micah had become fixated on her, claiming she was his ‘true love’ and repeatedly contacting her. 

She also alleged that Micah had tried to force his way into a home weeks later and had previously been violent with his own family.

Though the restraining order dates back more than eight years, its claims have drawn renewed scrutiny following Jubilant Sykes’ death.

A neighborhood insider previously told TMZ that Micah was not living with his father at the time of the killing and had been seen wandering the area, ‘rambling in public and shouting nonsensical things,’ amid ongoing mental health struggles.

The source added that Jubilant ‘loved Micah’ and had recently expressed hope that his son was ‘doing really well.’

Jubilant Sykes was a celebrated baritone whose career spanned decades and continents.

A neighborhood insider said Micah Sykes wasn't living with his father, jubilant, at the time and had been seen wandering the area, 'rambling in public and shouting nonsensical things'

A neighborhood insider said Micah Sykes wasn’t living with his father, jubilant, at the time and had been seen wandering the area, ‘rambling in public and shouting nonsensical things’

Micah had previously been accused of violent and erratic behavior long before police took him into custody for his father’s stabbing. Jubilant Sykes is pictured above

Micah had previously been accused of violent and erratic behavior long before police took him into custody for his father’s stabbing. Jubilant Sykes is pictured above

When officers arrived at the $2 million Santa Monica home, pictured, they found Sykes with 'critical injuries consistent with a stabbing', according to the official report

When officers arrived at the $2 million Santa Monica home, pictured, they found Sykes with ‘critical injuries consistent with a stabbing’, according to the official report

He earned a Grammy nomination for his performance in a 2009 recording of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass and performed at some of the world’s most prestigious venues, including the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Hollywood Bowl and London’s Barbican Centre.

He also collaborated with an eclectic range of artists, including Julie Andrews, Josh Groban, Carlos Santana and Brian Wilson.

Despite his success, those who knew him described Sykes as deeply committed to his community and his family. 

He shared three sons with his wife, Cecelia.

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