The mental competency and murder trials for April Dawn Ulrich, set to begin Wednesday, have been delayed due to the death of the psychologist who was to be an expert witness for her defense.

The 46 year-old Ulrich is accused of fatally shooting her husband, Eric Paul Ulrich, Oct. 26, 2006, in the NCR parking lot in Peachtree City.

Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard said the first phase of the two-stage trial, the mental competency trial, had been set to begin on Wednesday with jury selection for the guilt/innocence trial beginning on Friday. Both have been delayed until arrangements can be made to obtain the services of another psychologist, Ballard said.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead said Monday an investigation had been initiated in what it being considered a murder-suicide in the case of psychologist Dr. John Currie and his wife. Residents of Blue Ridge in Fannin County, Bankhead said a note found by investigators pointed to the possibility of a murder-suicide.

In a July 6 memo regarding the Ulrich trials, Superior Court Judge Christopher C. Edwards relayed a request for continuance from Assistant Public Defender George Weldon, noting an oral motion “for continuance of the Ulrich competency trial and guilt/innocence trail due to the alleged unavailability of Dr. Currie, the defense’s sole expert witness in the competency trial.” Judge Edwards acknowledged the district attorney’s agreement to reset the dates for the trials once the attorneys for both sides have conferred.

Ulrich is charged with one count of felony murder for the killing and one count of malice murder for planning the crime, authorities maintain. Investigators said Ulrich killed her husband after calling him at work and arranging to meet him in the NCR parking lot.