Paragraphs 15 through 17 read: "Another witness yesterday, Dr. Seth Johnston, who saw Harris in September 1996, also diagnosed her with major depression. Johnston, an internist in private practice, said Harris had been referred to him by Eitel and Bell, who had observed changes in Harris' behavior at work."

"Johnston told the jury that Harris made no eye contact with him and spoke in a very low voice. Johnston said he thought she should see a psychiatrist and referred her to University of Louisville Hospital. However, he said he learned she had been discharged the same day."

"He saw her again, and gave her a prescription for an anti-depressant. He said he was trying to prevent what he thought 'might well happen' - a suicide."

The murders happened in April, 1997. Kim Harris was either on antidepressants at this time or in withdrawal from them.

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Witness: Harris was depressed in '97
Courier-Journal, The (Louisville, KY)
January 31, 2001
Author: WESSEL KIM
Estimated printed pages: 3

Psychiatrist saw her two months before nursing-home killings
KIM WESSEL, The Courier-Journal

A psychiatrist who saw Kim Harris less than two months before she allegedly shot and killed two nursing home executives testified yesterday that he thought Harris needed hospitalization for her own protection.

``She was obviously severely depressed,'' said Dr. Sherif El-Asyouty, who was a psychiatric resident at University of Louisville Hospital when he evaluated Harris on March 7, 1997.

Testifying at Harris' murder trial in Jefferson Circuit Court, El-Asyouty told the jury he diagnosed Harris with major depression, and on a scale of 1 to 100, he rated her level of functioning at 15.

He said he had volunteered to treat Harris, free of charge, on a long-term basis - although that ultimately didn't work out.

``I thought Ms. Harris was a good candidate I could work with,'' he said.

On the eighth day of Harris' trial, her attorneys continued laying the groundwork for their client's insanity defense. While her attorneys do not dispute that she shot Deborah Bell, 46, and Patty Eitel, 43, outside the Jefferson Place nursing home on April 29, 1997, they're trying to show that Harris was severely mentally ill and legally insane at the time.

Harris, 27, is charged with two counts of murder and, if convicted, could be sentenced to death.

Bell was executive director of the nursing home in eastern Jefferson County, and Eitel was its director of nursing. Harris had worked there as a nursing assistant for about 1I years but was asked to resign two months before the shooting.

Prosecutors contend that, after losing her job, Harris killed Bell and Eitel out of revenge.

But much of yesterday's testimony centered on Harris' mental state in the months before the shooting.

El-Asyouty said Harris exhibited schizoid personality traits, such as emotional detachment and a lack of close relationships. He said he referred her to Central State Hospital, a psychiatric center in Jefferson County, where she stayed for about three days.

He said he was never contacted about her again.

When questioned by prosecutor David Lewis, El-Asyouty said that, in his opinion, Harris was not psychotic she was not having delusions or hallucinations.

Lewis told him that while at Central State, Harris' level of functioning was rated 55 on the same scale of 1 to 100. El-Asyouty said he wasn't aware of that, and acknowledged that the rating is subjective.

Another witness yesterday, Dr. Seth Johnston, who saw Harris in September 1996, also diagnosed her with major depression. Johnston, an internist in private practice, said Harris had been referred to him by Eitel and Bell, who had observed changes in Harris' behavior at work.

Johnston told the jury that Harris made no eye contact with him and spoke in a very low voice. Johnston said he thought she should see a psychiatrist and referred her to University of Louisville Hospital. However, he said he learned she had been discharged the same day.

He saw her again, and gave her a prescription for an anti-depressant. He said he was trying to prevent what he thought ``might well happen'' - a suicide.

Johnston said he scheduled another appointment with Harris, but she didn't show up, and when he tried to call her, her telephone had been disconnected.

``I was not all that sure that she was ever what you or I would call normal,'' he said.

On cross-examination, Johnston acknowledged that he is not a psychiatrist and that, in his guess, ``tens of millions'' of people suffer from depression.

Harris' trial is expected to end next week. Her parents may testify today.
Edition: MET;METRO
Section: NEWS
Page: 03B
Index Terms: MEDICAL; NURSING HOME; Kim Harris
Dateline: KENTUCKY, USA;UNITED STATES, JEFFERSON COUNTY
Copyright (c) The Courier-Journal. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.
Record Number: lou2001013111141272

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Witness: Harris was depressed in '97