by Virginia Hennessey, Herald Salinas Bureau
A woman charged with murder in the traffic death of Pacific Grove father Joel Woods will be evaluated once again to determine if she is competent to stand trial.
Judge Terrance Duncan appointed a psychiatrist to examine Deborah King at the request of her defense attorney, Daniel Clymo. King was to have faced a preliminary hearing Friday. She will return to court Wednesday to receive the doctor’s report.
It is the fourth time King is being evaluated for her ability to aid in her own defense. One doctor found her competent, and another found her incompetent but re-evaluated and agreed that she had been stabilized with medication.
Clymo told Duncan this week he believes King has worsened and asked that she be examined again.
The 51-year-old woman is charged with murder and felony vehicular manslaughter in the death of Woods, who was struck and killed while picking up his son from Pacific Grove Middle School on Sept. 2.
Prosecutor Steve Somers alleges King, who has five prior drunken-driving convictions in Kern County, was under the influence of intoxicating medication when the accident occurred.