Psychologist: Downtown El Paso murder suspect says Chucky told him to hurt victim

[TexasTowelie]

A 29-year-old man on trial on a murder charge suffered severe mental illness that caused him to hear voices -- including the voice of a homicidal doll featured in the "Chucky" horror movies -- that led him to beat his lover to death, a psychologist who interviewed him testified Thursday.

Michael Manuel Herrera is charged with murder in the July 6, 2009, death of Cesar Raul Torres, 39, at Torres' Downtown El Paso apartment. Herrera was arrested at a homeless shelter a few days later and has been jailed since in lieu of posting $100,000 bond.

After a full day of testimony by psychologist Carmen Petzold on Thursday, jurors were told Herrera suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Since 2001, Herrera was treated at several mental health treatment facilities and tried to commit suicide many times, including at least once after Torres' death.

Petzold, who was called to the stand by the defense, testified she interviewed Herrera at least three times. Petzold said that after the interviews and examining his medical records, she discovered that Herrera had taken several psychiatric medications and had a history of drug and alcohol abuse.

More at http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_23262940/psychologist-defendant-says-chucky-told-him-hurt-victim .

[Ilsa]

1. Poor job of monitoring someone who is

Mentally ill. It is possible that that the illness was latent until he reached his majority, but I thought a court could still order better monitoring. How very sad for everyone.