Suspect in stabbing of Indiana University student has history of ‘severe mental illness,’ says defense attorney

CNN
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The girl accused of stabbing an Indiana College scholar “has a long history of extreme psychological illness” and was “seeking assist controlling her problem up to and which include the day of the alleged assault,” in accordance to her defense attorney.

Billie Davis, who is White, allegedly stated she was inspired by race when she continuously stabbed the university student, who is of Asian descent, on a city bus in Bloomington on January 11th, according to court docket files and a college student team.

Davis and the target experienced been riding independently on the bus, and when the target experimented with to exit, Davis bought up from her close by seat and allegedly stabbed the sufferer in the head with a folding knife, leaving puncture wounds, a probable lead to affidavit says.

In a assertion emailed to CNN, Kyle Dugger claimed people close to the suspect describe no racist attitudes or background.

The 56-12 months-previous has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, aggravated battery, and battery by indicates of a lethal weapon, in accordance to on line court data.

“I would warning the community not to jump to conclusions about a person’s views or beliefs based on police promises from a single interview, and recommend even more caution when the interview was taken from a individual in custody who may perhaps be dealing with psychosis,” Dugger wrote.

In a court docket filing last week, Dugger stated he would find an madness defense and prove Davis is “incapable of helping in the planning of her defense for the reason that of mental sickness.” On the web court docket records show the court docket has questioned Davis to undergo mental wellbeing evaluations.

Duggar also asked the court docket to timetable a competency listening to. Two courtroom-appointed psychiatrists will examine no matter whether Davis was insane at the time of the alleged incident and if she’s proficient to stand demo, Dugger wrote in his emailed assertion. The decide will make the final decision about her competency, possible in about 3 to six months, he stated.

The insanity protection will be made a decision by the jury, Dugger wrote. “When insanity is elevated as a protection, the jury can return a verdict of responsible, not responsible, not guilty by purpose of insanity, or responsible but mentally unwell,” he reported.

If an personal is discovered not guilty due to insanity, prosecutors will transfer to have the specific fully commited to the condition Division of Psychological Health and Addiction, according to Dugger.

“The reality about why lousy things come about is not often uncomplicated,” Dugger wrote in his statement. “It is considerably much easier to demonize a human being who does some thing we really don’t realize than it is to consider to get the job done out the authentic causes primary to possible tragedy.”