Mental competency delays proceedings for Utah grandmother's alleged slayer

A man accused of stabbing his grandmother 111 times will not face a judge for another year while he continues to undergo treatment.

Zachary Cole Weston's appointed public defender, Denise Porter, informed 3rd District Judge Denise Lindberg that Weston, 22, is making progress at the Utah State Hospital but was still mentally incompetent at the time of his last mental health report, according to court documents. Porter requested that Weston's next court date be rescheduled for a year from now to allow Weston to make more progress.

Lindberg granted the request and scheduled Weston's next hearing for June 9, 2014.

Weston is charged with aggravated murder, which carries the possibility of death. On Oct. 3, Salt Lake City police found Joyce "Honey" Dexter, 84, dead in her home at 310 J St. Her grandson Weston, who had been living with her, was standing next to her in bloody clothes and holding a bloody knife, according to charging documents.

Doctors said the woman had been stabbed nine times in the heart, and some of her organs had been removed.

Weston's family has said he was previously treated for schizophrenia. His aunt, Jil Kulander, told The Tribune that Weston told his mother six months earlier that he was hearing voices.

mmcfall@sltrib.comTwitter: @mikeypanda