Psychiatrist: Man Accused of Killing 6 Controlled by Voices
Sep 17, 2019
"A forensic psychiatrist told jurors Monday that a man accused of fatally shooting six members of his ex-wife's family near Houston in 2014 wasn't responsible for his actions because of severe mental illness that made him believe voices in his head telling him to carry out the killings.
Prosecutors allege Ronald Lee Haskell, 39, created a meticulous plot in which he traveled from California to suburban Houston in 2014 and stalked his ex-wife's family for two days before killing six of them, including four children. One family member, a then 15-year-old girl, was also shot but survived by playing dead.
But Stephen Raffle, a forensic psychiatrist who examined Haskell and reviewed his medical records, testified at his capital murder trial that Haskell didn't know what he was did was wrong.
Raffle said that at the time of the killings, Haskell was suffering from a form of bipolar disorder, a brain condition that causes unusual shifts in mood, and from schizoaffective disorder, a condition characterized by hallucinations or delusions....
Killed in the shooting were 39-year-old Stephen Stay and his 34-year-old wife Katie, along with their children: 4-year-old Zach; 7-year-old Rebecca; 9-year-old Emily; and 13-year-old Bryan. Katie Stay was the sister of Haskell's ex-wife....
Prosecutors were expected to present about 10 rebuttal witnesses before the trial's closing arguments, which could take place by the end of the week.
Haskell faces a possible death sentence if convicted of capital murder."
Psychiatrist: Man Accused of Killing 6 Controlled by Voices
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Difficulties in "not guilty by insanity" defense for Ronald Haskell
"While it is becoming clear that defense attorneys for capital murder suspect Ronald Haskell will likely be pursuing a not guilty by reason of insanity defense. Evidence like alleged statements that he planned to come here and kill people which Haskell is alleged to have said, might actually be evidence for insanity says expert criminal defense attorney George Parnham."
