A Wisconsin judge presiding over the murder case in which a girl allegedly stabbed a classmate 19 times because of a character called ‘Slender Man’, stated that the 12 year old girl standing for trial could not be competent.
When the judge ordered Anissa Weier, the supposed stabber, to undergo a psychological assessment lasting 30 days, the prosecution did not object,
Both Weier and her friend Morgan Geyser have been charged with attempted first degree homicide after they attacked a colleague on the 31st of May.
Following a series of psychological assessments, the Judge has already ruled that Geyser is incompetent at this time to stand trial.
Weier’s condition was brought to the judge’s attention after her attorney, Assistant State Public Defender Joseph Smith Jr. sent a letter containing the professional opinion of a forensic psychologist who had examined Anissa.
“There is reason to doubt Ms. Weier’s competency to proceed.”, said the judge before issuing his ruling.
The girl’s family also stands behind prosecutor’s efforts, according to Stephen Lyons, survivor’s spokesman and attorney at Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C.
During the May 31st attack, the survivor managed to escape by attracting the attention of a passing bicyclist. The 12 year old has remained anonymous and is on her way to recovery, after a fundraising page called Hearts for Healing has helped raise more than $60,000 for her recovery. The girl has also received countless homemade cards, hearts and messages of hope and recovery wishes.
According to Lyons, she is already back at school and her progress has been astonishing. The two attackers lured the 12 year old into a forest on May 31st and stabbed her 19 times.
Now, she is a survivor, together with her family, working together towards putting this ordeal behind them. “And that’s how we refer to her and to the family: They’re survivors. They rose above this horrific crime and they survived. And she is thriving. What an ultimate testimony of the human heart to know she can both physically heal and then emotionally begin this journey of healing,”, Lyons stated during an interview.
Currently, the case will be moved to juvenile court according to Chief Legal Affairs anchor Dan Abrams of the ABC News. Juvenile court would mean that a waiver would be included for defendants over 10 years of age who are facing either murder or attempted murder charges. Abrahams notes, however, that it’s highly unlikely that both suspects will manage to avoid criminal punishment.
