Philip Chism says ‘voices’ compelled him to kill his high school teacher
Philip Chism, the teen accused of raping and killing his 24-year-old Danvers High School teacher Colleen Ritzer, told a psychiatrist that “voices’’ told him to commit the crime, according to The Salem News.
Chism, 16, was deemed competent to stand trial after undergoing a three-week mental health evaluation that put jury selection on hiatus. His attorneys have said they will pursue an insanity defense, arguing that Chism, then 14, was not aware his actions were wrong and was unable to control himself.
The defense, who hired the psychiatrist, has filed a motion that would prohibit the prosecution from calling a psychologist as an expert witness who says Chism was aware of his actions, The Salem News reported.
Immediately following the crime, Chism made no mention of the voices he now says made him commit the murder, according to the newspaper.
Opening statements in Chism’s trial are expected to begin Monday in Salem Superior Court.
Read the full Salem News story here.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com