A Pasco woman has been found competent to stand trial in April for allegedly fatally shooting her mother last year, but the trial date may change once her estranged husband is brought back to Washington.

Tashia Stuart, 38, appeared Thursday in Franklin County Superior Court, where Judge Cameron Mitchell signed an agreed competency order.

Stuart was evaluated at Eastern State Hospital in December, and state psychologists said she appeared to be feigning psychological symptoms and incompetency.

Stuart is charged with first-degree murder with aggravating circumstances for the March 3 death of her mother, Judy Hebert.

Her estranged husband, Todd David Stuart, was arrested last month in California on a warrant for first-degree attempted murder.

Todd Stuart is accused of conspiring with his wife to try to kill Hebert. Court documents allege Todd Stuart positioned his mother-in-law in the right spot in her garage so an 18-gallon bin of books would fall on her last February. Hebert, 58, suffered a severe head injury but survived.

Prosecutor Shawn Sant told Judge Mitchell on Thursday that he intends to request the cases against Tashia and Todd Stuart be joined so the trials can be done at the same time.

Sant acknowledged that if that happens, Tashia Stuart's April 11 trial likely will need to be changed.

Bob Thompson, one of Tashia Stuart's defense attorneys, said the issue of joining the cases will be complicated because of potential husband-wife privilege issues that may come up.

Todd Stuart waived extradition last month and is expected to be brought to the Franklin County jail sometime within the next two weeks, Sant said.

Todd Stuart, his wife and their 7-year-old daughter moved to the Tri-Cities to live with Hebert in January 2011. He apparently left his wife three days before Hebert was killed, then contacted Pasco detectives March 8 when he learned of the homicide on the Tri-City Herald website.

Police believe the Stuarts were conspiring to kill Hebert and first acted on it Feb. 20 when they pushed the bin of books from the rafters.

Following that incident, Hebert reportedly told neighbors and others that she thought her daughter and son-in-law were trying to kill her, documents said.

Detective Brad Gregory later learned from family and neighbors that the victim suspected her prescription medications were being switched and was taking notes on the unusual incidents at her home.

On March 3, Hebert and Tashia Stuart reportedly argued about a $300 withdrawal Stuart made without permission from Hebert's account before Hebert was shot.

Stuart has claimed self-defense, saying she shot her mother after Hebert came at her with an ax.

An evaluation at Eastern State Hospital was ordered in July after a jail nurse expressed concerns about Stuart's mental health.

Stuart spent 15 days at the state hospital in Medical Lake in December and told staff that she sees her mother next to or following her, documents said.

Staff reported that Stuart was pleasant, interacted with staff and peers and liked to play bingo and cards. But, she also selectively attended groups and her moods changed more quickly the longer she was there and when she knew she was being watched, documents said.

State psychologists determined that Stuart was not cognitively impaired and could assist in her own defense.