
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 1, 1994                   TAG: 9402010136
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: MANASSAS                                LENGTH: Short

JUDGE TO RULE FEB. 28 ON BOBBITT'S FUTURE

A judge will decide Feb. 28 whether Lorena Bobbitt, who cut off her husband's penis, will remain in a state mental hospital, a court official said Monday.

Prince William County Circuit Judge Herman Whisenant Jr. will hear from a panel of experts evaluating Bobbitt before deciding if she is a danger to herself or others.

Bobbitt is at Central State Hospital in Petersburg, where she was taken hours after a jury found her innocent but insane Jan. 21.

If Whisenant thinks Bobbitt is not ready for release, she could be committed for an initial term of six months, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Grace O'Brien said. Her case would be reviewed every six months thereafter.

- Associated Press

by CNB