MEMPHIS, Tenn. —The woman accused of murdering Memphis basketball player Lorenzen Wright will undergo a mental evaluation before further steps can be taken in her case.
On Wednesday, the judge told Sherra Wright she would meet with doctors tasked with trying to determine if she understands the charges against her and is able to help in her defense. He urged her to work with the doctors, stating her case can’t move forward until they have the results.
Both attorneys then asked for additional time for discovery.
Wright and her co-defendant Billy Ray Turner will be back in court on October 5.
Also in court on Wednesday was Wright’s son, Lorenzen Wright Jr. who didn’t speak with reporters as he left following the proceedings.
Sherra Wright’s attorney told the media he asked Lorenzen Wright Jr. – who lives out of town – to come visit his mom. He reportedly arrived earlier this week and has visited with his mother.
It’s the first time one of Sherra and Lorenzen Wright’s kids showed up in court.
Lorenzen’s mother, Deborah Marion, told us about the strained relationship as the couple’s children deal with their dad’s murder and their mother being charged for it.
“He just misses his dad right now. But he is stuck between a rock and a hard place,” she said.
Change of attorneys
Wednesday’s court proceeding was the first time Wright was represented by her new defense team led by Juni Ganguli.
Just last month, Blake Ballin and Steve Farese Jr. told the judge they could no longer represent her, citing their “deteriorating relationship” with their clients. They wouldn’t give any specifics.
“The relationship between us and the client had deteriorated to the point we couldn’t effectively represent her,” Farese Jr. said.
However, the judge made a point during the court proceedings to inform Wright that if she does not get along with this new court-appointed attorney they will not be able to appoint her another one.
Ganguli – just like her former attorneys – will be given discovery and enough time to familiarize himself with the case.