Competency evaluation is ordered in Tamika Pledger case

A Kansas City, Kan., woman charged with manslaughter in the traffic death of a teenage girl was ordered Friday to undergo an evaluation to determine if she is competent to stand trial.

Tamika Pledger is charged in the January 2015 death of 17-year-old Tierra Smith and injuries to three other teens struck by a car driven by Pledger.

The competency evaluation was ordered after a hearing last week in Wyandotte County in which Pledger said she didn’t understand the charges she faced.

In ordered to be competent to stand trial, a criminal defendant must be able to understand the nature of the charges and be able to assist in her own defense.

The defense and prosecution were given until March 10 to submit the names of doctors to perform the evaluation.

This story was originally published February 26, 2016 at 12:00 PM with the headline "Competency evaluation is ordered in Tamika Pledger case."