Courier

The sanity phase of the trial of ex-student George Wood Pigman IV concluded Wednesday with both sides presenting their closing arguments to the jury.

Pigman, who was convicted of first-degree murder Feb. 23, faces a mandatory 25 years to life sentence. The sanity phase was to determine where he serves his time.

"All we are asking is that you allow him to serve his time in a facility where he would be treated," Public Defender Jose Colon said.

Earlier in the sanity phase Pigman's attorneys called a number of doctors, who testified that he suffered from Bipolar I Disorder with psychotic features.

Deputy District Attorney Teresa Sullivan called several doctors that challenged that diagnosis.

Dr. Kris Mohandie, a clinical psychologist, diagnosed Pigman as having a Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, or a Mixed-Personality Disorder, with Pigman meeting some criteria for both Anti-Social Personality Disorder and Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

"People who suffer from Anti-Social Personality Disorder have a pattern of violating the rights of others, and rules of society," Mohandie said.

According to the jury instructions, Pigman can be found legally insane if they find that when he committed the crime he had a mental disease or defect, and because of that mental disease or defect he did not know or understand the nature and quality of his crime, or that it was legally or morally wrong.

The jury instructions also state that a personality disorder does not qualify as a mental disease or defect for the purpose of an insanity defense, nor does a temporary mental condition caused by the recent use of drugs or intoxicants.

Pigman was convicted of murdering his girlfriend Eimi Yamada in May 2005, a Japanese exchange student. She was found naked in the bathroom of her San Gabriel apartment, stabbed and beaten. A pair of scalloped-edged salad tongs lay on her leg.

It was revealed in the trial that Pigman had put his pants on and left the apartment, only taking them off after he had climbed up on the roof of a house several blocks away.

Deputy DA Sullivan contends the above fact demonstrates an awareness of social protocol and norms.

"It's not consistent at all with the theory the defense is trying to get you to believe," Sullivan told the jury.

The jury must decide which diagnosis, if any they believe Pigman suffered from at the time of the crime. Bipolar I disorder is considered to be an acute mental illness in qualifying for a legal insanity plea, according to Colon.

"It's a full-blown personality disorder that would take us out of the mix here," Colon said. "We don't have a personality disorder here."

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