Ex-Student's Sanity To Determine Murder Sentencing
Barbara Beaser
Posted on: 2/26/09 Section: News
"This is not a case of whodunit. He's responsible for the killing. But what was going on in George's mind? Why?" Williams said.
The defense reminded the jury of Dr. Joseph Ortego's testimony, and his diagnosis of Bipolar I disorder with psychotic features. Ortego is the clinical supervising psychiatrist at Twin Towers Correctional Facility.
In her closing statement, Sullivan argued that the killing of Yamada was brutal, but not bizarre.
"Bipolar doesn't equal justifiable killing," she said to the jury.
The sanity phase of the trial could go as long as two weeks, with the defense prepared to call up to six forensic psychologists and psychiatrists.
Pigman was arrested in May 2005 after police found Yamada dead in the bathroom of her San Gabriel apartment. She had suffered multiple stab wounds and was beaten. During the guilt phase of the trial Prosecution witness Paul Delhauer, a criminal investigative analyst and crime scene reconstruction profiler with Los Angeles County Sheriffs Homicide, testified to how Yamada must have been struck with a pair of salad tongs that was found lying nearby.
Pigman was found on top of a house several blocks away, naked and playing with his genitals. His hands were bloody, and he was making noises but not speaking any words.
Pigman attended PCC from 2001 to 2004, studying English and Journalism before being expelled after he missed an alcohol-related disciplinary hearing.
The defense reminded the jury of Dr. Joseph Ortego's testimony, and his diagnosis of Bipolar I disorder with psychotic features. Ortego is the clinical supervising psychiatrist at Twin Towers Correctional Facility.
In her closing statement, Sullivan argued that the killing of Yamada was brutal, but not bizarre.
"Bipolar doesn't equal justifiable killing," she said to the jury.
The sanity phase of the trial could go as long as two weeks, with the defense prepared to call up to six forensic psychologists and psychiatrists.
Pigman was arrested in May 2005 after police found Yamada dead in the bathroom of her San Gabriel apartment. She had suffered multiple stab wounds and was beaten. During the guilt phase of the trial Prosecution witness Paul Delhauer, a criminal investigative analyst and crime scene reconstruction profiler with Los Angeles County Sheriffs Homicide, testified to how Yamada must have been struck with a pair of salad tongs that was found lying nearby.
Pigman was found on top of a house several blocks away, naked and playing with his genitals. His hands were bloody, and he was making noises but not speaking any words.
Pigman attended PCC from 2001 to 2004, studying English and Journalism before being expelled after he missed an alcohol-related disciplinary hearing.
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