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Psychologist Testifies Roque was Psychotic
09/16/2003
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0916roque16.html
Psychologist testifies Roque was psychotic
Jim Walsh
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 16, 2003 12:00 AM
A psychologist testified Monday that the gunman who killed a Sikh gasoline station owner suffered from a "brief psychotic disorder" triggered by stress from the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Despite a tenacious cross-examination by a prosecutor, psychologist Phillip Barry stuck with his opinion that Frank Roque, 44, suffers from "schizotypal personality disorder," which makes him prone to psychotic episodes, and that Roque has below-average intelligence.
"Mr. Roque became psychotic at that time as the result of his exposure to Sept. 11. He became more withdrawn and more confused," Barry said. "He became more out of touch with reality."
A defense witness, Barry stopped short of saying Roque suffers from schizophrenia, like his late mother. But he said he does not believe Roque had the capacity to know right from wrong when he shot Balbir Singh Sodhi, 49.
Jurors would have to find Roque couldn't tell the difference between right and wrong to find him guilty but insane. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, saying Roque murdered Singh Sodhi out of hate in retaliation for the terrorist attacks because he wore a turban.
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