HILO, Hawai'i — A woman accused in a severe child abuse case involving a 10-year-old girl will undergo a mental evaluation by a panel of experts before her trial begins to determine whether she is competent to stand trial.

In a development that will further delay the attempted-murder trial of Hyacinth Poouahi, Hilo Circuit Judge Glenn Hara yesterday ordered that a three-member panel of mental health experts evaluate Poouahi and report back to the court by May 22.

Poouahi's lawyer, Keith Shigetomi, asked for the evaluation. Shigetomi said Poouahi has been taking prescription medication for depression, and recently told her lawyer she had been experiencing "auditory hallucinations."

"As a result of that, I have some concerns about Miss Poouahi's ability to proceed," Shigetomi said. He said Poouahi's condition qualified her to receive state disability payments.

Poouahi was a caregiver for the girl and called an ambulance to her 'Ainaloa home on Feb. 7, 2005, when the girl could not be roused. Court records say the ambulance crew found the girl lying on a lanai of the home with a cut on her head that was "decomposing and containing maggots."

A doctor at Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children who treated the girl told police the girl was malnourished and dehydrated, had a festering wound on her face, had cigarette burns and broken bones in her left hand and left foot, and had other injuries that suggested she had been bound, court records say.

Poouahi, 39, has said the girl's injuries were largely self-inflicted, and said the girl's condition suddenly deteriorated on Feb. 6, prompting her to call an ambulance the following day.

Poouahi was indicted on five felony charges, including kidnapping, terroristic threatening, first-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a minor. The attempted murder by omission count alleges Poouahi witnessed assaults and injuries to the child, and had a duty to seek help for the girl.

The girl, who is now 12, is living with her father and grandfather on the Big Island, according to Circuit Court records.

The trial has already been delayed once to allow time to summon more candidates for the jury.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com.