*This story was written by the Associated Press
Wednesday, January 17, 2001
(Albuquerque-AP) A forensic psychiatrist who has testified about Jeffrey Dahmer and Unabomber Ted Kaczynski is expected to evaluate an Albuquerque woman accused of murdering Girly Chew Hossencofft, whose body has never been found.
State District Judge Richard Knowles granted a prosecution motion Tuesday asking that Linda Henning undergo an evaluation to determine whether she is competent to stand trial. Knowles also ordered that Henning be evaluated separately by a court psychiatrist.
Prosecutors, who do not believe Henning is incompetent, expect to have Dr. Park Elliot Dietz, a forensic psychiatrist from Newport Beach, California, perform their competency evaluation.
Dr. Dietz has been a prosecution witness in several high-profile cases, including Dahmer, Kaczynski, Erik Menendez and John Hinckley, Junior.
Henning and boyfriend Diazien Hossencofft– the victim’s estranged husband — could face the death penalty if convicted of murdering the woman.