Zeta-Jones' alleged stalker to be examined

The woman accused of stalking Oscar-winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones has had a psychiatrist appointed to examine her.

Los Angeles Superior Court judge John Wiley has ordered that 32-year-old Dawnette Knight be examined by Dr Kal Sharma by 15 September.

The psychiatrist will determine whether Knight is competent to stand trial and work with her lawyer.

The examination will be conducted in jail, where Knight is being held on $1m (€818,000) bail.

Knight, who wrote numerous letters threatening the Chicago star, is charged with one felony count of stalking and 24 felony counts of making criminal threats.

A hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence to put Knight on trial was suspended last month when defence lawyer Richard Herman requested the psychiatric exam after an incident in which he suspected his client attempted suicide.

Knight was too drowsy for a court session in July and told her lawyer she had taken sleeping pills, Herman said - but he suspected she tried to overdose on barbiturates.

Knight recently apologised for writing the letters and claimed she had been infatuated with Douglas.