BENTON — Marissa Wright, who faces two counts of capital murder in the slayings of two men found buried in her backyard, is mentally competent to stand trial, two psychologists agreed Tuesday.
Mark Peacock, who testified for the state, said that after nearly five hours of testing and conversation at the State Hospital, he felt confident that Wright, 50, understands the judicial system and is able to work with her defense team.
During one portion of the interview, Wright became upset and balked at answering questions, Peacock told the court. But he characterized that part of the testing as a “lack of cooperation as opposed to inability.”
James Money penny, a psychologist who practices privately in Little Rock, testified for the defense.
He agreed with Peacock’s assessment of Wright, saying, “She is fit to proceed.”
Still, defense attorney Pat Aydelott told the court that he is reserving the right to further explore the possibility that Wright suffers from a mental illness or defect.
Both evaluations and accompanying reports were sealed by the court. A gag order was previously issued in the case.
Wright, who faces the death penalty, is charged in the October 2010 death of Joe Lee Richards Jr., 39, the son of a Benton alderman with whom she was romantically involved before his disappearance.
She also is charged in a separate case with kidnapping and capital murder in the death of Randal Ander-son, 53, of the Mabelvale area in Little Rock.
Another defendant, Jay Beeson, is charged with kidnapping and capital murder in Anderson’s death, but not in Richards’. He will be tried separately from Wright.
According to affidavits, police began investigating Wright after hearing she may have been involved in Richards’ disappearance.
Witnesses said they saw Wright shoot Richards after he got into an argument with a man cooking methamphetamine in Wright’s bathroom, court documents state. The witnesses also said that Richards was still alive and talking when they left, the documents said.
An ensuing search by police at Wright’s Traskwood home prompted Wright to confess to her father that she had killed Richards, according to affidavits. Her father then told his pastor, who called an Arkansas State Police trooper who attends their church, the documents said.
When police went to question her, they found her in the midst of a suicide attempt, court documents said.
A suicide note in which she confessed to both killingsalso revealed where the bodies were buried, according to affidavits.
Court documents also indicate that Wright gave statements to police.
Her attorney has filed a motion seeking to suppress some of Wright’s admissions. The court will hear testimony regarding that issue today.
Also Tuesday, the defense team asked Circuit Judge GaryArnold to recuse himself because he was the prosecuting attorney in a 1989 murder case in which Wright was given immunity in exchange for hertestimony. In that case, Frank Pilcher was convicted of shooting Jeff Rhodes in Benton and sentenced to life in prison.
Arnold said that while he was the prosecuting attorney at that time, his deputy prosecuting attorney tried the case.
While the two would have discussed any deals involving immunity, Arnold said he would have deferred to his deputy on the matter.
He denied the motion for recusal, saying that while the name “Pilcher” rang a bell, he didn’t remember anything else about that case, including Wright’s involvement.
Arkansas, Pages 9 on 03/28/2012