Kaela Mehl had a mental disorder at the time she killed her daughter, most likely in an attempt to protect her, a forensic psychiatrist testified in a packed Victoria courtroom Thursday morning.
Mehl is charged with first degree murder in the death of 18-month-old Charlotte Cunningham. She has admitted to causing CharlotteB次元官网网址檚 death by feeding her the sleeping pill Zopiclone mixed in yogurt and smothering her. Mehl later overdosed from a potentially fatal dose of the drug.
Dr. Shabehram Lohrasbe took the stand after a defence lawyerB次元官网网址檚 brief opening statement.
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B次元官网网址淎t the time Charlotte Cunningham died, Miss Mehl was in an abnormal mental state,B次元官网网址� he testified. B次元官网网址淚 came to the opinion that at the time she did have a mental disorder.B次元官网网址�
Lohrasbe, who was qualified by the judge as an expert witness, told the court that in many cases of filicide B次元官网网址� killing oneB次元官网网址檚 child B次元官网网址� the parent commits either B次元官网网址榓ltruisticB次元官网网址� filicide, or B次元官网网址榮pouse revengeB次元官网网址� filicide. Altruistic filicide, Lohrasbe said, can happen when a person in a time of extraordinary distress kills their child to protect them.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 pretty clear that altruistic filicides are the (most common), particularly among females. The mom kills the child because she believes at the time, that doing that is the best possible option for the child to prevent pain and suffering,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淭here are people who will kill their children as an act of vengeance against the partner theyB次元官网网址檙e very angry at, B次元官网网址榠f I canB次元官网网址檛 have her you canB次元官网网址檛B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� this happens to be the case far (more) often when men kill their children.B次元官网网址�
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Lohrasbe, who assessed Mehl once; 20 months after the child died; said there was an B次元官网网址渙verwhelming likelihoodB次元官网网址� this was altruistic filicide. However, he considered spouse revenge a possibility because of the turbulent custody battle between Mehl and her ex-husband, Daniel Cunningham, over their daughter.
LohrasbeB次元官网网址檚 conservative estimate was that Mehl had B次元官网网址渁djustment disorder,B次元官网网址� which he described as when B次元官网网址渨e may be placed under so much stress that for a period of time we kind of go off the rails. Our emotions get out of line, ideas become increasingly unrealistic.B次元官网网址�
The defence counsel asked him whether Mehl was able to comprehend right and wrong at the time she killed Charlotte.
B次元官网网址淲hen people reach a point of suicidality, their perspective on the reality of things has become so distorted that, from an outsiderB次元官网网址檚 perspective, it is very difficult to grasp their moral compass,B次元官网网址� Lohrasbe said. B次元官网网址淚f youB次元官网网址檙e feeling utterly alone, that the system is being played against you, that powerful people with money can hire powerful lawyers that can get their way, you start moving away from (a) realistic perspective.B次元官网网址�
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Lohrasbe said the single meeting he had with Mehl was very emotional.
B次元官网网址淎t the time I was fearful she was going to have a panic attack when we were talking B次元官网网址� Through much of the interview she pulled out CharlotteB次元官网网址檚 toys and grabbed them, clutched them to her chest.B次元官网网址�
While Lohrasbe testified, Mehl cried loudly.
In his opening statement, defence lawyer Jeremy Mills told the jury that a murder conviction requires that Mehl be found guilty not only of causing the death of her daughter B次元官网网址� a fact undisputed by both sides B次元官网网址� but that in doing so, she had the B次元官网网址渟tate of mindB次元官网网址� to wilfully commit murder.
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B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 need to decide if Kaela Mehl committed the act, because she has admitted it. For you, it is to try to determine Miss MehlB次元官网网址檚 state of mind at the time she caused the death of Charlotte Cunningham,B次元官网网址� Mills said to the jury, in a packed courtroom with 30-some people in the gallery. B次元官网网址淚f at the end of the day, you are not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Miss Mehl possessed the required state of mind at the time of the act, you should acquit Miss Mehl.B次元官网网址�
The trial continues Friday.
Read Victoria B次元官网网址B次元官网网址� coverage of the Kaela Mehl murder trial
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