ULSTER COUNTY, N.Y. -- The Ellenville woman accused of killing her mother last month pleads not guilty to second-degree murder, this time in Ulster County Court.
Police said 27-year-old Sarra Gilbert used a kitchen knife to stab her mother, 52-year-old Mari Gilbert.
During Friday's hearing she requested a conference, which will take place September 9.
Gilbert is also facing an animal cruelty charge, but it's unclear why. That charge will be addressed during next month's conference.
Gilbert's lawyer said his client is schizophrenic. She's already had a psych test to determine whether she can participate in her own defense. Her lawyer wants another one done to determine whether she can be held criminally responsible for her own actions.
“When someone is criminally insane, when someone does not have responsibility, they're not guilty. It's our job to establish to the court's satisfaction that she is schizophrenic, that she really did not understand what she was doing, or the consequences of it when it occurred,” said
Sarra Gilbert is currently in the Ulster County Jail.