COURT SHOOTER BLAMES DRUGS ATTORNEY: 'PSYCHOTIC BREAKDOWN' LED TO ATTACK.Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer VAN NUYS - A Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. man who gunned down a probate attorney in front of television news cameras outside the Van Nuys courthouse was suffering a psychotic breakdown from painkillers, his attorney told a jury Tuesday. During opening statements, defense attorney Arna Zlotnik said William Strier, 66, was not himself when he chased attorney Gerald Curry behind a tree, shooting him five times. Curry survived the dramatic attack, which was seen by millions of TV viewers. Strier, who is accused of attempted murder In the criminal law, attempted murder is committed when the defendant does an act that is more than merely preparatory to the commission of the crime of murder and, at the time of these acts, the person has a specific intention to kill. , dabbed his eyes from his courtroom hospital bed. ``This is not your everyday shooting - something is amiss,'' Zlotnik said. ``Did he attempt to kill him? Did he premeditate To think of an act beforehand; to contrive and design; to plot or lay plans for the execution of a purpose. Premeditation refers to the decision to plan to commit a crime, generally murder. these acts? ``The answer ... is a resounding re·sound v. re·sound·ed, re·sound·ing, re·sounds v.intr. 1. To be filled with sound; reverberate: The schoolyard resounded with the laughter of children. 2. no.'' If convicted of first-degree murder and of threatening a court-appointed trustee, Strier could serve life in prison. Strier's trial, limited to several hours a day on account of his weak condition, will likely continue through January. No one disputed that Strier shot Curry five times Oct. 31, 2003, outside Van Nuys Courthouse, where news crews gathered to cover a murder hearing for actor Robert Blake Robert Blake may be:
Deputy District Attorney James Falco told jurors that Strier intended to kill Curry because he was upset over the management of his trust. Curry had represented Evelyn Murphy Evelyn Murphy is an American politician. She was the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts from 1987 to 1991, and was the first woman in the history of Massachusetts to hold a state-wide office. , the woman who'd been named trustee for a $98,000 settlement Strier received after he was hit by a car, Falco said. Strier, angered by the way Murphy managed his money, had threatened to kill his trustee, Falco said, and requested his sister replace her. ``This case revolves around a trust fund,'' Falco told the jurors. ``That's what this case is about, ladies and gentlemen: Money.'' As cameras rolled, Strier chased Curry around a tree as the Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. attorney scrambled to avoid bullets fired from a .38 caliber revolver and a two-shot .22 caliber derringer. Curry, a noted San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. community activist who'd never met or spoken with Strier, staggered from behind the tree, bleeding from the face. He then raised his hands before collapsing in a walkway. Doctors later removed bullets from his arm and near a major artery in his neck. Strier, as seen on TV footage aired in the courtroom, pocketed his empty pistols and calmly strolled away. ``That's what he gets for stealing my money,'' Falco said he'd told a passing cameraman. He was then tackled by attorney Dave Katz, an off-duty Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County reserve deputy who would later receive a Courageous Citizen Award. Zlotnik said Strier did not threaten to murder Murphy nor her attorney. Rather, he wanted money for back surgery to relieve acute pain incurred by the car accident. ``Basically, ladies and gentlemen, it's (about) a trust run amuck a·muck also a·mok adv. 1. In a frenzy to do violence or kill: rioters running amuck in the streets. 2. ,'' Zlotnik said. ``This was all the money he had to fund these surgeries. ``What he does have is a psychotic breakdown,'' she said. ``My client was under the influence of Demorol - longtime use, high dosage - that affected his state of mind at the time of the shooting.'' Dana Bartholomew, (818) 713-3730 dana.bartholomew(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: William Strier watches the opening statements of his trial unfold Tuesday from a bed in the courtroom. Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer |
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