A judge has found Zaaina Asra Zakirrah Mahvish-Jammeh, who is charged with murdering their social worker at a Brattleboro shelter last month, temporarily incompetent to stand trial.
The state can request a new competency evaluation, according to an order regarding competency signed by Superior Court Judge Katherine Hayes. A status conference is set for Aug. 9.
Mahvish-Jammeh is charged with first-degree murder, accused of killing Leah Rosin-Pritchard, their social worker and shelter coordinator at the Morningside House shelter in Brattleboro.
Mahvish-Jammeh, 39, allegedly bought a hunting hatchet the weekend before using it to kill Rosin-Pritchard. They pleaded not guilty.
“The Court finds that the defendant currently suffers from a major mental illness,” Hayes wrote in her order, dated Wednesday, May 24. “As a result of that major mental illness, defendant is not presently competent to stand trial.”
A psychiatric evaluation from April, compiled by forensic psychologist Ariana Nesbit, found that Mahvish-Jammeh experiences mania and psychosis. The defendant’s “delusional beliefs prevent them from being able to assist their attorney in a rational defense strategy,” Nesbit wrote in her evaluation.
Nesbit drew upon two interviews as well as court documents and medical records to reach her determination. Mahvish-Jammeh described facing persecution from former President Donald Trump, the CIA and Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the evaluation.
“Mahvish-Jammeh’s delusional beliefs involve the legal system and the courtroom personnel, they do not have an adequate understanding of the proceedings against them,” Nesbit wrote.
In her order from Wednesday, Hayes, the superior court judge, wrote that Mahvish-Jammeh is still held without bail, but the defendant would not be subject to that order so long as they are in the custody of the Department of Mental Health. Mahvish-Jammeh can remain hospitalized and in mental health custody for a maximum of 90 days under the current order.
If Mahvish-Jammeh is discharged from the custody of the department of mental health, “then defendant shall be returned to the custody of the Department of Corrections,” Hayes wrote. A hearing must be held before Mahvish-Jammeh is discharged, according to the order.
“This criminal docket shall not be dismissed and remains active pending an adjudication on the merits,” Hayes wrote.