Defense Drops Psychiatric Argument in New York Murder Case

Attorneys for the defendant in a New York state murder case informed the judge on Thursday that they would withdraw their plan to argue at trial that the killing occurred while the defendant suffered an extreme emotional disturbance. The notice came in a court filing one day after a hearing in which the defense had indicated it would pursue a psychiatric defense.

At the Wednesday hearing, Judge Gregory Carro said he planned to unseal records related to the affirmative defense. After the withdrawal, Carro said Thursday he would keep those records sealed. The filing did not state what defense the attorneys now intend to present. No statements from either side addressed the reason for the change.

Prosecutors have said they plan to introduce evidence from a diary seized during the arrest. " "Wack the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention," the diary says, according to a filing from the district attorney's office. " The trial is scheduled for September.

The gun and journal recovered at the time of arrest will be admitted as evidence. >"Wack the CEO at the annual parasitic bean-counter convention.