Woman accused in Vt. ax murder deemed not competent for trial

BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (WCAX) - The woman accused of murdering a Brattleboro homeless shelter employee with an ax has been deemed not competent to stand trial.

Zaaina Mahvish-Jammeh, 38, who faces first-degree murder charges, will be hospitalized following a competency hearing Wednesday in Windham County.

According to court paperwork, Mahvish-Jammeh suffers from a major mental illness. The judge ordered Mahvish-Jammeh to be held in the custody of the Vermont Department of Mental Health for up to 90 days.

The murder happened on April 3 at the Groundworks Collaborative Shelter on Royal Road in Brattleboro. Police say Mahvish-Jammeh, who lived at the shelter, requested a meeting with coordinator Leah Rosin-Pritchard. They say Mahvish-Jammeh then violently attacked and killed the social worker with an ax.

If Mahvish-Jammeh is discharged from Department of Mental Health custody, then its back to jail to be held without bail.

Related Stories:

Groundworks staff to take time off to grieve loss of co-worker

Woman accused of killing shelter coordinator to seek mental evaluation

Woman pleads not guilty to hatchet murder of Vermont shelter employee

Woman arrested for murder at Brattleboro homeless shelter

Police investigating suspicious death at Brattleboro homeless shelter

Copyright 2023 WCAX. All rights reserved.