A motion for continuance has been filed in the case of Vanessa Henschel and her defense attorney has asked the court to also order a mental evaluation to determine if she is fit to proceed in the case against her.
The 25-year-old Henschel, who has stood mainly mute during appearances in court and in meetings with her appointed defense attorney, will also be evaluated as to criminal responsibility — meaning whether or not she was aware that her actions were wrong.
Her trial was set for Tuesday.
Henschel was arrested in early February 2016 when she is reported to have entered a room at the Town and County Motor Inn in Mountain Home and stabbed a 23-year-old female occupant.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Henschel is alleged to have been a friend of the victim at one time.
The victim’s boyfriend let Henschel into the room based on that past relationship. He then went outside to retrieve articles from a vehicle when he heard screaming coming from the room.
He ran back to the room and found Henschel astride his girlfriend stabbing her. The boyfriend struck Henschel knocking her off the victim.
The victim, who received non-life-threatening injuries, told police there was no conversation between her and Henschel prior to the attack. She said she was in bed, and Henschel jumped on top of her and started stabbing her while saying “I’m sorry” during the attack.
Deputy Public Defender Mark Cooper wrote in his motion to continue Henschel’s trial that he had met with her several times at the Baxter County jail and did not believe she was fit to proceed or able to be held criminally responsible for her actions. Cooper also wrote that Henschel intended to rely on the defense of mental disease or defect.
Cooper wrote that he had been informed by jail personnel and “other supervising authorities” that Henschel’s behavior is what he described as “erratic and a concern.”
Attempts have been made to have Henschel evaluated but it has been reported in open court that she refused to cooperate and the initial efforts were scrapped.
She has also had problems dealing with authorities in the state prison system. According to prison records, during a recent stay in the McPherson Unit in Newport, she racked up 30 disciplinary infractions.
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