Murder Prozac 27/04/2005 Florida Man Kills 3: Uses Prozac Defense
Summary:
Paragraph 4 reads: "White says his client Chip Carter was taking Prozac when he was accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, her daughter and her new boyfriend."
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=36239
Lawyer Says Prozac To Blame for Triple Murder
By Tiani Jones
First Coast News
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- They don't look dangerous, but, tiny capsules are being accused of everything from making people rob banks, to murder.
Prozac, it's competitor Paxil and other
anti-depressant drugs, have made their way through courtrooms all around the country, and now here in Jacksonville.
"There is a subgroup of people who take this medication who have bad reactions either suicidal or violent reactions," said Public Defender Bill White.
White says his client Chip Carter was taking Prozac when he was accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, her daughter and her new boyfriend.
The case was set to go to trial next week, but, Wednesday a judge granted a continuance in the case.
White said, "I think he analyzed the law and he did the right thing."
The judge also had to take into consideration a case taking place just south of Jacksonville.
Leslie Demeniuk is accused of killing her 4-year-old twin sons, and her defense team claims the drug Paxil mixed with alcohol played a part in the murders.
"The literature is pretty extensive. The medical testimony in that case is been going on with experts for quite some time," said White.
Prosecutors in the Carter case say their evidence is much stronger then the little pills the defense is relying on.
"We're going to rely on the facts on the proof that we have. The facts speak for themselves, they speak the truth," said prosecutor Bernie De la Rionda.
Created: 4/27/2005 4:59:54 PM
Updated: 4/27/2005 7:55:05 PM
Edited by Tiani Jones, Reporter