Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier, the 12-year-old girls allegedly responsible for the Slender Man (or Slenderman) stabbings, appeared in court on Wednesday, June 11, with Geyser’s attorney asking for a mental evaluation.
Geyser and Weier were initially arrested and charged – as adults – with attempted first-degree intentional homicide. They are currently each being held under a $500,000 bail in a juvenile facility.
According to the official report, Geyser and Weier lured their friend into the woods on May 31 and proceeded to stab her 19 times before leaving her to fight for her life. The victim, also 12, managed to crawl to the side of the road, where she was discovered by a bicyclist who called the authorities.
On Wednesday, defense attorneys for Geyser and Weier appeared in court. Geyser’s defense team requested that she undergo a mental competency evaluation, and Deputy District Attorney Susan Opper did not raise any objections. The exam will take place within the next 15 days, and the results will be sealed by the court.
“We’re asking that Ms. Geyser have a competency evaluation. We have reason to believe that there are issues with her competency, and so we would ask that the court appoint a doctor for that purpose,” Geyser’s lawyer requested.
Weier’s defense did not request any such evaluation, but they did state that the question of Weier’s competency to stand trial could come up at a later court date. Both defense teams voiced plans to attempt to move their cases to juvenile court, though it appears no official actions have yet been taken. Bail remains at $500,000.
“The girls are in adult court because this is such a serious crime. And they should be facing serious consequences. On the other hand, they’re 12. And most crimes committed by 12-year-olds, even if they’re serious, are handled in juvenile court,” legal expert Wendy Murphy told ABC News.
According to Wisconsin law, any person charged with homicide aged 10 and up is immediately charged as an adult. Tried as adults, both Geyser and Weier could face up to 65 years in prison if found guilty. Comparatively, if tried in juvenile court, they could reportedly be incarcerated until the age of 25.
Meanwhile, the victim survived the attack and is now recovering at home. Her family released a statement saying that her recovery was going well. In the statement, the girl’s parents describe their daughter’s love of Katy Perry and Taylor Swift and say that she loves school, especially French class.
“She has a love for life and the dramatic sparkle of any typical 12-year-old girl in her eye. Although the sparkle has dimmed for now, we know that it will be back again brighter than ever because of the amazing support she has worldwide,” read the statement.
Geyser and Weier’s next hearings are set for July 2.
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