Judge bars testimony on brain scans indicating schizophrenia in Philip Chism
Philip Chism’s brain is markedly different than his peers, two neuro-psychiatrists testified Thursday as defense witnesses, with volume differences and asymmetry often seen in those with schizophrenia and traumatic brain injury.
But jurors in the teenager’s murder trial won’t find out about any of that, Judge David Lowy ruled, calling the evidence too prejudicial.
MRI scans of 16-year-old Chism’s brain were taken this fall and analyzed by doctors at the University of Pennsylvania. They found volume differences in Chism’s brain when compared to 61 other 15-, 16- and 17-year-olds.
Drs. Ruben Gur and Theodore Satterthwaite said those differences were indicative of schizophrenia, but acknowledged they couldn’t diagnose Chism or anyone else with the psychotic disorder without behavioral analysis.
They also couldn’t say whether Chism’s brain looked like that on Oct. 22, 2013, when he was arrested for raping, robbing and killing his math teacher, Colleen Ritzer.
“The MRI of the defendant’s brain in 2015 is of extremely limited probative value as it relates to the defendant’s mental state … in October 2013,’’ Lowy said.
Defense attorneys are arguing that Chism wasn’t criminally responsible for the crimes, and should be found not guilty by reason of insanity. Chism was not in the courtroom Thursday, having waived his right to appear.
The defense’s chief witness, Dr. Richard Dudley, will testify that Chism suffers from unspecified psychosis.
“The issue is whether the defendant has a mental disease or defect, and we have an expert who says he suffers from a psychotic disorder, and this [MRI imaging] is evidence that supports this diagnosis,’’ defense attorney Denise Regan said.
Assistant District Attorney Kate MacDougall wanted the imaging evidence barred, calling it a “bomb’’ that would be thrown into the mix for the jury to weigh.
“We’re going to throw the word [schizophrenia] around the courtroom and throw up brain scans and act like the jury isn’t going to go there,’’ she said.
The judge seemed to agree with her.
“The inference the jury was asked to draw was that the volumetric value of the brain [is] consistent with schizophrenia is that the defendant has schizophrenia,’’ Lowy said. “That is simply an impermissible inference for the jury to draw.’’
Gallery: Scenes from the Philip Chism trial
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