Results in on Blansett competency exam, hearing set for Thursday

By James Jordan

Wellington News

The competency exam is complete for Nichole Blansett, who is accused of killing her 10-year-old son last December in Wellington. A competency exam was ordered in January, and she was sent to the state hospital in Larned, for the evaluation.

County attorney Kerwin Spencer said Friday attorneys and the judge have been given copies of the report, but the results are not yet public record.

There is a hearing set for 1:30 p.m.  April 23 at the Sumner County Courthouse.

“We should be able to get a decision at that time,” Spencer said. The actual report may never be a public record.

The judge will likely make a ruling, Spencer said, and judges often rely heavily on the evaluation when making a determination as to whether a person is competent to stand trial.

Blansett, 33, allegedly entered her child’s bedroom late at night and hit the boy with a rock and stabbed him to death. She called EMS a few minutes later.

She has been charged with first degree murder.

If she is found incompetent she will be sent back to the state hospital and will be kept there until she becomes competent enough to stand trial. That may never happen, and Spencer said that often is in essence a life sentence.

If she is found competent the court proceedings will continue as normal, with a preliminary hearing and then entering a plea, followed by an actual trial.

The competency exam is used to determine if she understands the nature of the proceedings and the charges against her.

She was first examined by the local mental health center, and then referred to Larned.