The Acton woman who pleaded guilty of stabbing her ex-husband last year in front of their two children wants to change her plea. Kandee Collind, formerly Kandee Weyland, stabbed her ex-husband in the chest on February 22, 2017, puncturing his heart after learning he was granted full custody of their children.
Police say Collind stabbed Scott Weyland in the driveway at Weyland’s mother’s home on Milton Mills Road in Acton. Her 11-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter were with her at the time. Weyland and his son both called 911, but Weyland died on the way to the hospital. Collind and Weyland’s divorce had been finalized just five days before the stabbing.
Thursday's hearing in Alfred County Superior Court was supposed to be Collind’s sentencing, but instead, her defense offered new evidence. Collind will pursue an abnormal-condition-of-the-mind defense.
In August 2018, Collind pleaded guilty to intentional and knowing murder and violation of a protection from abuse order. She faced a minimum of 25 years in prison, but her attorney, Clifford Strike, said the state had agreed to ask for no more than 32 years as part of a plea agreement.
Days after the August plea, Collind left messages for her attorneys saying that she hadn’t understood fully all of the details of her plea hearing. Collind told her lawyers she had not taken her psychological medicine on that day and she wanted to change her plea.
New evidence was presented to the court Thursday about her medication and phone calls from jail.
Collind’s attorneys asked for more time to review the new evidence and their request was granted. The state and the judge made it clear that the terms of the plea agreement would be withdrawn if Collind changed her plea and she will face significantly more jail time if her case goes to trial.
Collind’s next court appearance is expected on Jan. 16.