Monday, November 24, 2008

Smithson: Narcissistic, Drug Addicted

A forensic psychologist testified this morning that convicted murderer Bill Smithson suffers from a mixed personality disorder that includes narcissistic and histrionic traits.

Smithson was convicted Friday of first degree murder, kidnapping, attempted rape in the killing of Jason Shephard.

Monday morning the penalty phase of the trial began to decide if Smithson would get the death penalty or life in prison.

In addition to the personality disorder, Dr. Gerald Cook, said Smithson also suffered from drug dependence and had a history of alcohol abuse.

Cook said after testing and examining Smithson he found him to be in "denial" and "repression" concerning a childhood, in which he didn't get the nurturing he needed to become a well-adjusted adult.

Cook said dependence on crystal meth can have the long term effect of causing addicts to be "anxious, paranoid, violent, and self-destructive."

Based on his opinion, Smithson was "under extreme emotional disturbance at the time of these events..."

Cook also suggested Smithson was "self-centered" and sensation seeking."

He also said that Smithson's drug use seemed to increase after his grandmother, to whom he was very close, passed away.

Under cross examination by ADA Tom Lawrie, Cook said that while Smithson might have "functioned well" in his job, no so much well in his personal life.

Cook also sound her tested the defendant for "organic brain damage" and found none.

The only witness for the prosecution was Jason Shephard's father, Kyle Shephard, who described the loss of his only son.

"He was the core of our family," Shephard told the jury.

Shephard talked about his son almost as if he were still alive.

Lawrie asked him if the two years that have passed since his son's death have helped mitigate the pain.

"No," Shephard quietly replied. "It's been two years of nightmare."

He described his and his wife coming to Philadelphia to search for their son, only to be met by Smithson. While he drove them to their hotel, Jason's body at his house.

"The person we shook hands with (that night at the airport) was the person who took his life."

As for Jason, "We can't imagine the suffering he went through that night," his father said.

By the time he left the stand, even the defendant was wiping his eyes.

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cook said after testing and examining Smithson he found him to be in "denial" and "repression" concerning a childhood, in which he didn't get the nurturing he needed to become a well-adjusted adult.

Oh, of course. Smithson was the victim here. It all makes sense now. Maybe we should just let him go after all he’s been through?

Cook said dependence on crystal meth can have the long term effect of causing addicts to be "anxious, paranoid, violent, and self-destructive."

Or maybe it was the drugs’ fault. We gotta shift the blame somehow…

Based on his opinion, Smithson was "under extreme emotional disturbance at the time of these events..."

Nothing compared to the disturbance Shephard suffered that night.

Cook also suggested Smithson was "self-centered" and sensation seeking."

Gee, ya think?

He also said that Smithson's drug use seemed to increase after his grandmother, to whom he was very close, passed away.

Weepweep, blahblah.

Under cross examination by ADA Tom Lawrie, Cook said that while Smithson might have "functioned well" in his job, no so much well in his personal life.

Funny how such people can turn it on and off at will like that.

Cook also sound her tested the defendant for "organic brain damage" and found none.

Being a gay/ druggie/ rapist/ murderer is a mental illness in itself.

November 25, 2008 at 12:29 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I wish blind gay-apologist Dishonest Dave Diano were here to defend this indefensible jerk. It would be entertaining to watch him lie and grasp and wiggle in order to defend even this animal. Libs like DDD do just that ...only because they guy is gay... Talk about blind misplaced sympathies...

November 25, 2008 at 10:44 AM 

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home