ERIE — A woman accused in a bank robbery that ended with a pizza deliveryman being killed by a bomb locked around his neck will not appear in court for her arraignment today because of concerns about her mental condition, her attorney said.

Thomas Patton, an assistant federal public defender, said Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong is manic and cannot remain silent unless medicated. He said he fears she would talk too much during a nearly five-hour trip from Muncy, where she is in the state prison.

Patton had Diehl-Armstrong waive her presence at the arraignment and will enter a not guilty plea on her behalf, the Erie Times-News reported on its Web site Monday.

Prosecutors last week charged Diehl-Armstrong, 58, and Kenneth E. Barnes, 53, with bank robbery, conspiracy and a firearms violation in connection with the Aug. 28, 2003, robbery of a PNC Bank.

The robbery ended when a bomb around the neck of Brian Wells exploded, killing him.