Judge halts insanity exam for girl in Slender Man stabbing
A judge on Tuesday stayed his recent order that a 12-year-old Waukesha girl charged with trying to stab a classmate to death undergo a psychiatric examination meant to determine if she could raise an insanity defense.
According to online court records, Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren stayed his July 1 order "pending further order of the court."
Late Thursday, the girl's attorney had filed a motion asking that Bohren reconsider the examination, saying it was premature and could jeopardize Morgan Geyser's Fifth Amendment rights against self incrimination.
Deputy District Attorney Susan Opper said she could not comment on the court's action, and that no hearing date had been set to her knowledge. The next scheduled court appearance in the case is Aug. 1.
Two doctors who have done more limited evaluations of Geyser have concluded she is incompetent, meaning she may not fully understand the proceedings and is not able to aid in her defense. At a July 1 hearing, Opper had asked for a hearing on Geyser's competency.
She also asked for a more extensive examination into Geyser's mental condition at the time of the crime, in case she later raised an insanity plea.
Geyser's attorney, Anthony Cotton, objected that would be premature, because no insanity plea — known in court parlance as an NGI plea — had been entered, and may not be entered. Competency to proceed is a different question from whether a defendant is not guilty because of a mental disease or defect.
In his motion for reconsideration, Cotton argued an NGI exam would entail asking Geyser about the incident, violating her right to remain silent, since her answers would presumably be turned over to the state.
"Until the issue of competency is addressed, Ms. Geyser lacks the ability to understand the nature of the proceedings, therefore her rights, or the importance of being candid about potential mental illness," the motion reads.
Geyser and Anissa Weier, also 12, are charged as adults with attempted first-degree intentional homicide in a May 31 attack on a third girl in the woods near a Waukesha park the day after all three girls had a sleepover to celebrate Geyser's birthday.
All three attend Horning Middle School in Waukesha. The victim, who has not been identified publicly, suffered 19 stab wounds but has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.
Geyser and Weier are being held at a secure juvenile center in West Bend.
The case has drawn international attention because of the girls' ages and because the defendants told police their motive was to gain favor with an Internet character named Slender Man, whom they believed lived in Nicolet National Forest.
Summerfest 2016: Which emerging country acts you should catch at Summerfest
Q&A: Get to Know: Brewers pitcher Zach Davies
Indianapolis developer proposes 274 apartments at former Pabst complex
Fight, stabbing leaves man dead in Milwaukee
Deer storms into Oconomowoc Piggly Wiggly, but does little damage
U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Texas' abortion restrictions
Peptimed raises $200,000 to aid development of cancer-fighting drugs
Preps Alcove: Handing out hardware for the 2015-16 athletics season in Lake Country
Drugs suspected in Strawberry Festival crash that hurt 2 in Cedarburg
Lynn Sprangers to become Wilson Center president and CEO
Court upholds reach of US gun ban for domestic violence
Director Rafaeli finds the haunting music of love in APT’s ‘Eurydice’
81-year-old man reported dead in Hales Corners pool drowning
Ballpark Commons could get $26 million in city funds, study suggests
Teen released on signature in carjacking faces nine felonies
On Tap Today: Live music and a free movie to perk up a dull Monday
PolitiFact: Are there more people employed than ever before?
Report sheds new light on problem of poverty in Wisconsin
PGA Tour Champions: Kirk Tripplett uses back-nine surge to win inaugural event
Nationals 3, Brewers 2: Nationals win series finale without ace
Kohler Grand Prix: Will Power keeps pack in rearview at Road America
Small Wisconsin dairy hopes to milk new trend: A1-free
Man chokes to death at Greek Fest in Racine
‘Horrible’ curriculum dooms program putting cops in classes
Wisconsin GAB in final days as state's elections authority
Storm brings several inches of rain to southern Wisconsin
Racine to pay $100,000 to settle lawsuit over man's arrest
4 motorcyclists hurt in separate crashes across Wisconsin
Summerfest 2016: Meet the three finalists for Summerfest’s Land The Big Gig competition
Lincoln Hills officials failed to oversee rape investigations
Racine man charged with selling fake Chicago Bears tickets
Several hurt in Milwaukee crash involving 4 cars, county bus
Lightning strike catches Waukesha home on fire
Driver accused of 6th OWI after Dane County crash
Boaters rescued after boat capsizes on Lake Monona
Behind the Headlines: How one 'professional plaintiff' threatened companies
Advertisement
More Waukesha County News
- Lightning strike catches Waukesha home on fire
- U.S. appeals court overturns conviction in Falls bank robbery (7)
- OwnersEdge gives Green Bay business owner an alternative to selling
- Fire at Oconomowoc landscaping business reported early Wednesday
- Slender Man: Mom fights for daughter charged in stabbing