FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A former school scholar who randomly killed a Florida couple of their storage six years in the past after which chewed on one sufferer’s face in the end is going on trial Monday, with a pass judgement on deciding whether or not he is going to jail for lifestyles or to a psychological health facility.
Austin Harrouff, 25, has pleaded no longer responsible via explanation why of madness to 2 counts of first-degree homicide and different fees for his August 2016 slayings of John Stevens, a 59-year-old landscaper, and his 53-year-old spouse, Michelle Mishcon Stevens, who had retired after running in finance.
The previous Florida State College scholar has waived a jury trial, that means Circuit Pass judgement on Sherwood Bauer will come to a decision whether or not Harrouff was once insane when he killed the couple, and severely injured the neighbor who got here to their assist.
The trial has been behind schedule via the pandemic, criminal wranglings and Harrouff’s restoration from important accidents suffered whilst ingesting a chemical all over the assault. It’ll be in Stuart, an hour power north of West Palm Seashore, and ultimate about 3 weeks.
Prosecutor Brandon White didn’t reply to a decision and e mail in the hunt for remark. Harrouff’s lead lawyer, Robert Watson, declined remark.
Underneath Florida regulation, defendants are presumed sane. For Harrouff’s protection to be successful, Watson should display that he had a critical psychological breakdown that averted him from figuring out his movements or that they had been mistaken via “transparent and convincing proof.” Harrouff has stated he was once fleeing a demon when he attacked the couple.
If convicted, Harrouff shall be sentenced to lifestyles in jail with out the potential for parole; prosecutors waived the dying penalty.
If Harrouff is dominated insane, Bauer will devote him to a protected psychological health facility till docs and a pass judgement on agree that he’s now not bad. That might additionally successfully be a lifestyles sentence, stated Craig Trocino, a College of Miami regulation professor, as a result of “it’s extremely not likely” that docs and a pass judgement on would chance freeing a killer as infamous as Harrouff.
Two psychological well being professionals, one employed via prosecutors and one via the protection, tested Harrouff and located that he suffered an acute psychotic episode all over the assault. In addition they discovered that he couldn’t distinguish between proper and mistaken.
Prosecutors then employed a 2nd professional who stated Harrouff was once sane, however not too long ago withdrew him pronouncing he has critical well being problems. They now have a 3rd professional who believes Harrouff was once on a drug that didn’t seem in post-arrest assessments, however has no longer tested him.
Lea Johnston, a College of Florida regulation professor, stated that most effective about 1% of criminal defendants take a look at an madness protection since the bar to be successful is so top. A couple of quarter of the ones be successful, most often in a pretrial deal the place prosecutors agree that the defendant’s psychological sickness meets the usual.
She stated for madness defenses that stretch trial, defendants who waive a jury have probably the most luck. Judges perceive the device, she stated, whilst jurors incessantly fear that defendants acquitted via explanation why of madness shall be launched faster. In addition they would possibly query whether or not remedy at a psychological health facility works.
“There’s many years of study appearing that (the general public) is biased in opposition to the madness protection and it’s extensively misunderstood,” she stated.
Harrouff’s assault made nationwide headlines as a result of its brutality and randomness; he didn’t know the sufferers. He was once a 19-year-old and not using a felony file — a former highschool soccer participant and wrestler who was once finding out workout science. He stripped just about bare and attacked the couple of their open storage with gear that he discovered there. When police arrived, Harrouff was once biting chunks off John Stevens’ face.
It took took a number of officials, an electrical stun gun and a police canine to subdue Harrouff. Officials didn’t shoot him as a result of they feared hitting Stevens.
Harrouff just about died from chemical compounds he drank within the storage, which burned his digestive device.
Investigators discovered he bought some hallucinogenic mushrooms a couple of days ahead of the assault, however buddies stated he destroyed them and no hint was once present in his blood. He additionally did Google searches for “tips on how to know in case you are going loopy.”
Harrouff’s oldsters, who’re divorced, and others stated he had acted unusually for weeks. His oldsters had arrange an appointment for him to be evaluated, however the assault took place first.
His father, Wade Harrouff, advised TV psychologist Phil McGraw that at the night time of the slayings his son left a cafe the place they’d been consuming with out rationalization. He walked two miles (3 kilometers) to his mom’s space and attempted to drink cooking oil. Mina Harrouff stopped him, however he poured the oil right into a bowl with Parmesan cheese and ate it.
She introduced him again to the eating place. Wade Harrouff, a dentist, advised McGraw he grabbed his son and stated, “What’s mistaken with you?” He stated his son raised his fist, however Wade Harrouff’s female friend advised him to prevent and he left.
The eating place’s safety video presentations Austin Harrouff evenly exiting about 45 mins ahead of the assault. His mom, ahead of figuring out of the assault, known as 911 and advised the dispatcher her son gave the impression delusional, claiming to have superpowers and that demons had been in her space.
But it surely was once too overdue — Harrouff walked or ran the 4 miles (six kilometers) to the Stevens’ house.
Austin Harrouff advised McGraw he was once escaping a demon he known as Daniel and most effective has obscure reminiscences of the slayings.
He stated he encountered Michelle Stevens within the couple’s storage. She screamed, and “then it’s a blur.”
“I don’t be mindful what she stated — I simply be mindful being yelled at,” Harrouff stated. He stated he grabbed a machete, however doesn’t be mindful why he killed her and her husband.
“It’s love it came about, however I wasn’t acutely aware of it,” Harrouff stated.
