Feb. 15, 2005.
McKINNEY, Tex.—A mother who cut off her baby's arms was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial on murder charges yesterday.
The jury's verdict came after just minutes of deliberations in Dena Schlosser's brief competency trial. Both the prosecution and the defence had requested that jurors find her incompetent so she could be treated at a mental hospital before standing trial.
Attorneys said they expect the judge to commit Schlosser to a state hospital today. She could still stand trial if she is someday found competent.
Schlosser, 36, was charged with murder Nov. 22 after she told a 911 operator she had severed her 10-month-old daughter's arms. Police found Schlosser in the living room, covered in blood, still holding a knife and listening to a church hymn.
She was later diagnosed with manic depression. In court, she sat slumped in her chair and stared straight ahead when the verdict was read.
Earlier yesterday, psychiatrist David Self, who evaluated Schlosser on Sunday, said that she was often incoherent and that her depression had "grossly worsened" since he examined her last month and recommended she be placed in a mental hospital.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
McKINNEY, Tex.—A mother who cut off her baby's arms was ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial on murder charges yesterday.
The jury's verdict came after just minutes of deliberations in Dena Schlosser's brief competency trial. Both the prosecution and the defence had requested that jurors find her incompetent so she could be treated at a mental hospital before standing trial.
Attorneys said they expect the judge to commit Schlosser to a state hospital today. She could still stand trial if she is someday found competent.
Schlosser, 36, was charged with murder Nov. 22 after she told a 911 operator she had severed her 10-month-old daughter's arms. Police found Schlosser in the living room, covered in blood, still holding a knife and listening to a church hymn.
She was later diagnosed with manic depression. In court, she sat slumped in her chair and stared straight ahead when the verdict was read.
Earlier yesterday, psychiatrist David Self, who evaluated Schlosser on Sunday, said that she was often incoherent and that her depression had "grossly worsened" since he examined her last month and recommended she be placed in a mental hospital.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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