Road Rage Murder Attempt Antidepressants 29/06/2000 North Carolina Switch in Antidepressant Causes Road Rage Murder Attempt Summary:

Paragraph one reads:  "A Weaverville man who claimed a bad reaction to antidepressants caused him to run over his wife and her male friend last year was sentenced to almost 30 years in prison Wednesday."
 
Paragraph 4 reads: "Andrews had tried to argue that his doctor's mistake in switching his antidepressants too abruptly caused a chemical imbalance in his brain."
______________________________________________________________


MAN SENTENCED TO 29 YEARS FOR RUNNING OVER WIFE, HER MALE FRIEND
Asheville Citizen-Times (NC)
June 29, 2000
Author: Susan Dryman; Staff Writer
Estimated printed pages: 2
[]

ASHEVILLE - A Weaverville man who claimed a bad reaction to antidepressants caused him to run over his wife and her male friend last year was sentenced to almost 30 years in prison Wednesday.
 
Jurors convicted Glenn Harrison Andrews of two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and one count of violating a domestic violence protective order.

He was sentenced to serve a total of at least 29.25 years and as much as 36.5 years in jail.

Andrews had tried to argue that his doctor's mistake in switching his antidepressants too abruptly caused a chemical imbalance in his brain.

But jurors deliberated 90 minutes before deciding that wasn't enough to find him not guilty.

District Attorney Ron Moore said he's glad jurors didn't think the chemical imbalance defense meant Andrews wasn't guilty.

"We appreciate the jury's attention, and the rejection of the purported defense," he said. "We're just glad they weren't confused with that. We thought it was a Johnny-come-lately attempt to generate some sympathy. He wasn't deserving of any."

Judge Marlene Hyatt of Waynesville sentenced Andrews to between 16.25 and 20 years in prison for running over his estranged wife, Kathy Andrews, with his car last October in the parking lot of the Ingles in Black Mountain and then stabbing her three times, including once in the heart.

Andrews was sentenced to between 13 and 16.5 years in prison for assaulting a man his wife was with at the time, Brian Evsich, who was also run over by the car.

The judge sentenced Andrews to more time in his wife's assault because she also suffered stab wounds and because she sustained permanent, disabling injuries.

She suffered ankle and leg injuries and now walks with a limp and with the aid of a cane.

Andrews was also sentenced to 60 days for violating a domestic violence protective order which Mrs. Andrews had taken out before the assaults.

That charge is a misdemeanor, but was tried with the more serious charges in superior court.

Assistant District Attorneys Kate Dreher and Al Williams prosecuted. Public Defender Calvin Hill represented Mr. Andrews.

Andrews' victims are lucky to be alive, prosecutors said.

"When you start running people over and stabbing them, that's some serious intent," Moore said. "Yes, we are absolutely lucky this wasn't a double, first-degree murder case."

Contact Dryman at 232-5953 or SDryman@CITIZEN-TIMES.com
Edition:  Final
Section:  Local
Page:  2B
Index Terms: CRIME, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, GLENN HARRISON ANDREWS, STABBING, ATTEMPTED MURDER , KATHY ANDREWS, SENTENCING , TRIAL
Record Number:  ash6625347