Christopher Plaskon in court on May 2, 2014. (credit: CBS 2)
MILFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) — A 17-year-old Connecticut boy charged with stabbing a classmate to death on the day of their high school’s junior prom pleaded not guilty to murder Wednesday.
Christopher Plaskon entered the plea in Milford Superior Court. He also waived his right to a probable cause hearing and elected for a trial before a three-judge panel rather than a jury.
Plaskon, wearing an orange jumpsuit with his feet shackled, looked attentive but impassive during the 13-minute hearing, WCBS 880’s Peter Haskell reported.
Plaskon’s attorney, Richard Meehan, said after the hearing that he’s investigating a possible mental health defense and said such a defense would be more difficult to make before a jury.
“I’m a firm believer that juries have a very difficult time with issues pertaining to mental health in the criminal justice system,” Meehan said.
Plaskon, whose family attended the hearing, is on anti-psychotic and anti-anxiety medications, Meehan said in court.
A witness saw Plaskon on top of Sanchez during the attack and tried unsuccessfully to pull him away, and another saw him discard a bloody knife, according to a police affidavit.
Plaskon, his clothes bloody, was taken to the principal’s office, where an officer arrived and asked what happened. “I did it. Just arrest me,” Plaskon replied, according to the officer.
Plaskon’s family issued a statement days after the incident, offering their deepest sympathies to the Sanchez family.
“Please know that you are forever in our hearts, our thoughts and our prayers,” the statement said. “We join with the entire Milford community to celebrate the life and mourn the loss of this most vibrant and exceptional young woman.”
