PORTLAND — Bella Harris, a Gorham woman charged with stabbing her husband in the face and torso, will be given a psychological evaluation to determine whether she is competent to stand trial and help ascertain if her mental illness interfered with her ability to distinguish right from wrong.

Harris, 26, made an initial appearance in Cumberland County Unified Criminal Court this morning before Justice Roland Cole. Her attorney, J.P. DeGrinney, entered not guilty pleas on her behalf to charges of attempted murder, two counts of elevated aggravated assault and a separate charge of aggravated assault.

DeGrinney asked that the state authorize a forensic psychological examination to help determine whether his client is competent to stand trial and to determine whether she may be not guilty because of mental disease or defect. He also asked that Harris be taken to Riverview Psychiatric Hospital in Augusta for a period of evaluation.

Harris was arrested March 9 by Gorham police after she allegedly stabbed her husband multiple times in the face, back and torso. Police at first thought her husband might not survive the attack.

Harris has been held on $100,000 bail at Cumberland County Jail since her arrest.

DeGrinney said more than 500 pages of information related to the case has been gathered by police and prosecutors and he has yet to be able to review it with Harris because she has not been properly medicated, he said.

DeGrinney said he plans to call witnesses from California and southern states. A trial could be scheduled for the end of the summer.


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