In September, a psychiatrist said 57-year-old Billie Davis was mentally unstable and incompetent to undergo trial. On Wednesday, forensic psychologist Lesli Johnson testified that Davis’ mental state has improved, and she is now competent.
According to court documents, Johnson spent five hours interviewing Davis during her six-week stay at a federal detention center in Houston, Texas. Johnson said Davis has borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and substance-use disorder.
Johnson testified Davis understands how the court system works and will be able to assist federal public defender Leslie Wine with her own defense. Wine, who had planned to argue insanity in defense of Davis, agreed.
The woman allegedly stabbed an 18-year-old Asian IU student on Jan. 11.
“She is competent,” Wine said, according to court documents. “She is presently able to assist me.”
Davis is accused of stabbing an IU student in the head with a pocketknife about seven times on a Bloomington Transit Bus. On Jan. 11, 2023, Davis and the victim were on Bloomington Transit Bus 1777 when it stopped at the intersection of West Fourth Street and the B-line trail. According to a probable cause affidavit, security footage from the bus shows Davis unfolding a knife as the victim stands and prepares to exit the bus. As the then-IU freshman waited for the doors to open, Davis reportedly stood up and stabbed her repeatedly on the top of the head. The footage then shows Davis putting the knife back in her pocket and returning to her seat on the bus.
An ambulance transported the victim to the hospital, where doctors found multiple stab wounds to her head. Security footage shows no prior interactions on the bus between Davis and the victim.
Davis originally faced state charges of attempted murder,…
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