Murder Antidepressant 20/11/2002 Illinois Man Shoots Two: Uses Antidepressant Defense Summary:

Paragraphs 4 & 5 read: "Rodeen said he would argue that Hari is innocent "by reason of insanity and involuntary intoxication."

"Rodeen said the jury would hear testimony from two psychiatrists and a medical doctor that David Hari exhibited symptoms of "major depression" before the shootings. Rodeen said an anti-depressant prescribed for Hari, when combined with an over-the-counter antihistamine, upset Hari's mental state, which was a factor in the crimes."


http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/112002/new_20021120022.shtml

Wednesday, November 20, 2002

Defense to argue impairment in trial

By Dave Hinton
Pantagraph correspondent
PAXTON -- The defense in David Hari's murder trial in Ford County will not dispute that he fired the shots that wounded his estranged wife and killed her boyfriend.
Defense attorney Gerald Rodeen said during his opening statement Tuesday afternoon that "the case is not about the actual shooting." It's about "requisite criminal intent," he said.
Hari, 39, of Roberts is charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Jeff Thomas, 39, of Paxton and attempted first-degree murder in the shooting of Hari's estranged wife, Lisa Hari, 36, also of Paxton. The shootings occurred Feb. 10 at Lisa Hari's home.
Rodeen said he would argue that Hari is innocent by reason of insanity and involuntary intoxication.
Rodeen said the jury would hear testimony from two psychiatrists and a medical doctor that David Hari exhibited symptoms of "major depression" before the shootings. Rodeen said an anti-depressant prescribed for Hari, when combined with an over-the-counter antihistamine, upset Hari's mental state, which was a factor in the crimes.
In his opening statement, Ford County State's Attorney Tony Lee said the jury will hear how neighbors found Thomas, wearing his Navy uniform and lying in the middle of Spruce Street. Thomas, a Seabee who just returned from a day of training in Decatur, had been shot four times.
Lisa Hari was found wounded in the bathroom of her home.
Lee said Thomas moved in with Lisa Hari after both had filed for divorce from their respective spouses, and only five people had keys to the house's new locks. Lee said David Hari stole a key from Lisa Hari's neighbor and had a duplicate made to gain entry to the home.
Lisa Hari was talking to her brother, Scott Sherfey, by phone about 6 p.m. when she heard a noise in the basement that sounded like someone loading a gun, Lee said.
She investigated the noise and discovered David Hari there with his .22-caliber rifle. He began firing as she ran up the stairs, Lee said.
Jurors viewed crime scene photos that showed bloody pools on the street, on stairs and smeared on walls.
Rodeen said David Hari left the rifle at the home because there was a "crazy" neighbor who lived nearby and that he went to retrieve it so he could go hunting with his sons.
But when Lisa Hari saw him in the basement and began cursing at him, David Hari began firing as if "in a fuzzy dream," like he was watching something in a movie, Rodeen said.
Roberts Police Chief Randy Kinzinger testified he and other officers arrested Hari without incident at his mother's home about three hours after the shooting.
Hari had been asked what he had done with the gun. He replied, "What gun?" Kinzinger said.
Later, while being transported to the Ford County jail, Hari asked, "What's this all about?"
Kinzinger said Hari showed no signs of mental impairment or trouble walking.
Rodeen said David Hari, who "married his high school sweetheart," was "a reliable, dependable father" until Lisa Hari began divorce proceedings a month before the shooting. David Hari was a yard man at Alexander Lumber Co. in Gibson City.