and you're right about that one as well... the victim is the one that this whole case is revolving around... although he has a history of mental illness, that doesn't mean that she had to suffer for it either... it's not been my intention for trying to justify that his illness (or lack there of, records pending) was a valid backing to give him the movitive, but it leaves more than what we're reading open than what we're able to grasp without more information... as the article says at the very bottom, "Krebs said it is too soon to know whether mental disease will be his client’s defense, but he has requested copies of all of Newberg’s mental-health records."

I think that we can categorically rule out "homicidal maniac" from the list of possible suspects, as our man showed enough restraint to murder only one person when it appears that more were available.

I think that I understand what you are saying and that you are right. My problem is that with the concern over this alleged murderer and his state of mental health, it gets a little too easy to forget about the poor woman that was stabbed to death. Let's not be too hasty in making the perpetrator a victim of his own state of mental health. That tends to set up a smoke screen to obscure the real victim. Who can ever know the true mental state of a murderer? That is a secret shared between God and man, not knowledge shared between men. Men can only guess.

sorry... i meant 'maniacal'... gotta love typos

gary, we're all neighbors here... welcome to the "moniacal" community... ;-P the way i see it is in a twisted sort of way, none of us are sane... we all have our issues, but it's up to the 'professionals' to deem to what degree of insanity we really are... some people need more help than others... i know what he did was wrong, much like most other people that read/follow this article, but how ill is he?? could he REALLY control his actions?? normalicy and sanity have lost their meanings due to the so many subcategories in today's standards... normal and sane to one may not be to another...

I don't care if this freak had Mental Illness he still commited a crime he needs to be locked up and have the key thrown away a lot of people have Mental Illness and a lot of us don't go around killing people.

Exactly how long did it take to figure out the killer has mental health issues? Doesn't anybody who kills anybody have something going on upstairs just my thought.

Good job defending this guy. If I come across any maniacal, homicidal, axe-wielding murderous types, I will let them know that they can count on you to be a good and understanding neighbor. Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neighbor? ;-)

there are people with a mental handicap that do drink... most of them not medicated... according to reports, the defendant wasn't on any medication... there's no probable way for him to have had the 2 substances converge in his system for any adverse behavioral reaction... either way, he should still be screened by a medical professional and base further relevance off of the report and its findings... the judicial system is all about FACTS... without that, it's all heresay... to some of us, it may seem like a weak defense, but without the rest of the facts, how can it be viewed otherwise?? do I think what he dis was wrong?? yes, however, there are too many facts missing in this case for one to say he meant to do it

No one has brought up this issue of alchohol and prescription drugs. The police said he was stumbling around and smelled like booze. wonder what his B.A.C. was? I think the defense has a weak case.

warm, it seems you are the one blaming the mentally ill for what they cannot control. I hope you never have to deal with a mental illness in your family, because even without a murder taking place, it is a tragedy of small crises that can sap the joy of life out of any family.
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Since the fact of the homicide is apparently in little doubt, the only question that will be resolved is where the perpetrator is housed. In a system that is designed to punish, or a system that is designed to treat and heal. Fortunately, we live in a country where every person accused of a crime is entitled to a vigorous defense.

he may not have known it was wrong... I have connections in the psych field, and depending on what ailment and the severity all factors as to how aware an individual is to his/her actions... if off the medication, the person is not in control, but it takes the diagnosis of a medical professional to deem the disorder, how bad the disorder is, and how to treat (meds, dosage, professional theraputical treatment, etc.)... I say, allow him to seek a professional's psychiatric diagnosis prior to any further progress in this suit against him... base any conviciton judgement on facts of the medical report... it's all fact based relevance... more work needs to be done in this case...

Even if he had a mental-health problem, he obviously knew it was wrong because according to the other articles, he told his sister that she couldn't leave, tell the neighbors, or call for help. And in my mind, if you kill someone, especially your mother, you have some kind of mental-health issue.

Perhaps Judge Byron should give this article a good read. Seems to me it might have some relevance.