Woman found competent for trial in corpse-slashing case
Jul 8, 2015, 11:55 AM
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — An Oklahoma woman charged with slashing the corpse of her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend is competent to stand trial, a district judge ruled Wednesday.
Tulsa District Court Special Judge David Youll reviewed 27-year-old Shaynna Sims’ psychiatric evaluation and said she is competent, meaning she’s able to understand the charges against her and is able to help defend herself. Sims, who did not appear in court, is jailed without bond and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Sept. 11.
Sims has pleaded not guilty to four felonies: unauthorized removal of body parts from a dead body; larceny from a person; knowingly concealing or receiving stolen property; and first-degree burglary. She also is charged with two misdemeanors of unauthorized dissection and disturbing or interrupting a funeral.
Chad Greer, Sims’ attorney, said her character has been “assassinated” in the media and in “the court of public opinion.”
“Inside that courthouse, she is innocent of each and every one of those six charges against her,” Greer said. “Until that time, she is protected by the Oklahoma Constitution and the U.S. Constitution, just like any other defendant.”
The district attorney’s office declined comment Wednesday.
Sims was arrested at the dead woman’s apartment after attending a viewing April 30. Police say Sims stole the woman’s shoes and was carrying a knife with the woman’s hair attached to it.
Witnesses told officers they saw Sims reach into the casket during the viewing. The dead woman’s face was slashed, her makeup was smeared and her hair was on the floor, court documents allege.
Sims had been released on bond, but that was revoked after authorities said Sims violated the terms of her release by leaving Muskogee County on June 5 and showing up at a Tulsa apartment complex where the dead woman’s children live wearing a wig. She was also wearing her GPS ankle monitor.
Sims tried to get a phone from a pop-up cellphone stand inside the complex, according to court documents, but the manager and others noticed the disguise and called police.
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