Levi Aron Psych Evaluation Earns Him No Sympathy From Community
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A court-ordered psychiatric report reveals that Levi Aron, charged with killing and dismembering 8-year-old Leiby Kletzky of Borough Park is mentally ill, but many residents are dismissive of those results.
Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind said mental illness is no excuse for taking Leiby's life.
"To say that the guy is insane is basically to say that he's not guilty. He's not responsible. Well he is responsible and there's no question about that, he said.
"He knew what he was doing, please," one resident said.
At his last court appearance, Aron stood silent, emotionless, head down, eyes shifting. Doctors who examined the confessed killer at Kings County Hospital say he's troubled and confused, with a flat, apathetic mood and schizoid features.
Aron's sister died years ago while being treated for schizophrenia.
"It's very unlikely based on the confession that Mr. Aron wrote out in front of law enforcement that this will lead to anything other than a conviction," said Criminologist Dr. Casey Jordan.
Aron told doctors he started hearing voices a year ago. After he allegedly kidnapped Kletzky exactly a month ago and killed and dismembered him. He says the voices told him to hurt himself and others.
"This would go to the issue of whether or not he has a mental disease or defect that may or may not qualify him for the insanity defense," Fordham law professor Deborah Denno told CBS 2's Derricke Dennis.
The psychiatric evaluation goes on to report aron has suffered nightmares since the incident, and is having difficulty realizing what happened.
Aron has pleaded not guilty, and has been found fit to stand trial. His defense is still looking into a possible insanity defense.
Would mental illness lead you to be sympathetic to Levi Aron if he is guilty? Sound off in our comments section below…
