mojo
02-13-2002, 10:11 PM
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/print_21102_news_wordtrial.html
Fighting words?
Man allegedly shot girlfriend about to say 'New Jersey'
The words "Snickers," "Mars Bar," "Wisconsin," and "New Jersey" apparently make Thomas Mitchell angry.
By Mark Garay
ABC13 Eyewitness News
(2/11/02 - Galveston) — We all have words that make us cringe. But one man's aversion to certain words nearly killed a woman. A Galveston man is on trial for nearly killing his former girlfriend because of the words she was about to say. The man says the words make him crazy.
There are apparently four words that make this defendant very, very angry, including state names such as "Wisconsin" and "New Jersey." In fact "New Jersey" is apparently what set this case in motion.
He stands accused of aggravated assault. On March 9, 1999, prosecutors say Thomas Mitchell had a confrontation with his then-girlfriend of four years at his Texas City apartment.
Mo Ibrahim/Prosecutor: "In his opinion, he looked in her eyes and he thought she was going to say the word 'New Jersey.' Then he went in his bedroom, got his gun, loaded it. She knocked on the door and he answered it and shot her three times."
The victim, Barbara Jenkins, survived and will likely testify against Mitchell when testimony begins on Tuesday.
While Mitchell's attorney declined comment, she may have a tough case to defend. Prosecutors say more than a half dozen people witnessed the shooting. A handgun was discovered in Mitchell's car. And he reportedly gave incriminating statements to police.
Prosecutors say there are other words that Mitchell does not like, words like "Snickers" and "Mars Bar." Defense attorneys may question Mitchell's sanity at the time of the shooting, but court-appointed psychiatrists have examined him with similar results.
Mo Ibrahim/Prosecutor: "Two independent psychiatrists have examined him and both deemed him to be sane and competent."
But no one can say why the words "Snickers," "Mars Bar," "Wisconsin," or "New Jersey" may set Mitchell off. Defense attorneys will likely call their own psychiatrist to explain what prosecutors say is indisputable evidence that Mitchell pulled the trigger.
Mitchell does have a long history of mental illness, and the defense is hoping that some of the witness statements he gave police after the shooting will be suppressed. They are also asking that probation at least be an option for sentencing if in fact Mitchell is convicted. Prosecutors say they did not seek a conviction on attempted murder charges, since attempted murder and aggravated assault are both second-degree felonies, punishable by two to twenty years. All they have to prove under the charge of aggravated assault is that he used or exhibited a deadly weapon in the course of the assault.
Fighting words?
Man allegedly shot girlfriend about to say 'New Jersey'
The words "Snickers," "Mars Bar," "Wisconsin," and "New Jersey" apparently make Thomas Mitchell angry.
By Mark Garay
ABC13 Eyewitness News
(2/11/02 - Galveston) — We all have words that make us cringe. But one man's aversion to certain words nearly killed a woman. A Galveston man is on trial for nearly killing his former girlfriend because of the words she was about to say. The man says the words make him crazy.
There are apparently four words that make this defendant very, very angry, including state names such as "Wisconsin" and "New Jersey." In fact "New Jersey" is apparently what set this case in motion.
He stands accused of aggravated assault. On March 9, 1999, prosecutors say Thomas Mitchell had a confrontation with his then-girlfriend of four years at his Texas City apartment.
Mo Ibrahim/Prosecutor: "In his opinion, he looked in her eyes and he thought she was going to say the word 'New Jersey.' Then he went in his bedroom, got his gun, loaded it. She knocked on the door and he answered it and shot her three times."
The victim, Barbara Jenkins, survived and will likely testify against Mitchell when testimony begins on Tuesday.
While Mitchell's attorney declined comment, she may have a tough case to defend. Prosecutors say more than a half dozen people witnessed the shooting. A handgun was discovered in Mitchell's car. And he reportedly gave incriminating statements to police.
Prosecutors say there are other words that Mitchell does not like, words like "Snickers" and "Mars Bar." Defense attorneys may question Mitchell's sanity at the time of the shooting, but court-appointed psychiatrists have examined him with similar results.
Mo Ibrahim/Prosecutor: "Two independent psychiatrists have examined him and both deemed him to be sane and competent."
But no one can say why the words "Snickers," "Mars Bar," "Wisconsin," or "New Jersey" may set Mitchell off. Defense attorneys will likely call their own psychiatrist to explain what prosecutors say is indisputable evidence that Mitchell pulled the trigger.
Mitchell does have a long history of mental illness, and the defense is hoping that some of the witness statements he gave police after the shooting will be suppressed. They are also asking that probation at least be an option for sentencing if in fact Mitchell is convicted. Prosecutors say they did not seek a conviction on attempted murder charges, since attempted murder and aggravated assault are both second-degree felonies, punishable by two to twenty years. All they have to prove under the charge of aggravated assault is that he used or exhibited a deadly weapon in the course of the assault.