History of mental illness focus of homicide trial
A psychiatrist testified for more than three hours Thursday that Andrea Curry-Demus had a history of mental illness and was delusional when she cut a baby from the womb of a McKeesport teenager.
"As a result of her underlying psychosis, she's unable to appreciate between right and wrong," said Dr. Barbara E. Ziv during the Wilkinsburg woman's homicide trial. "I think it's likely she was psychotic. It's the sum total of 20 years of psychotic behavior and the bizarre act of the crime itself."
Ziv's testimony is the centerpiece of the defense for Curry-Demus, 40, who is on trial for the July 2008 death of Kia Johnson, 18. Defense attorney Christopher Patarini is seeking a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Deputy District Attorney Mark V. Tranquilli plans to call psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Wright to the stand today to counter Ziv's claims. Wright's testimony likely will conclude the trial.
Ziv testified at length about Curry-Demus' history of mental illness. She said that past doctors diagnosed Curry-Demus with psychosis and having delusions of pregnancies and children. Ziv diagnosed her with delusional disorder.
"Her beliefs are non-consistent with reality," Ziv said.
Curry-Demus and Johnson were together several times at the Allegheny County Jail visiting inmates in the days leading up to the killing. Johnson was visiting the father of her child, and Curry-Demus was visiting her husband.
Curry-Demus is accused of drugging Johnson, binding her wrists and ankles with duct tape and cutting the baby out of her womb. Tranquilli contends that Curry-Demus placed tape over Johnson's eyes and mouth, keeping her alive until the baby was born, then wrapping plastic wrap and more tape over Johnson's face to kill her.
Curry-Demus went to West Penn Hospital in Bloomfield with the baby, claiming she had just given birth. After doctors determined that wasn't medically possible, Curry-Demus said she bought the baby for $1,000, according to testimony. The baby survived.
When Judge Jeffrey A. Manning asked Ziv questions about Curry-Demus' mental capacity, the psychiatrist said "subsequent to the event, she knew what she was doing was wrong."
Manning must decide the degree of Curry-Demus' mental illness, if there is any. Tranquilli asked for a verdict of first-degree murder but mentally ill -- a crime that carries a life sentence in a prison hospital.
The judge could find that Curry-Demus' mental illness diminished her mental capacity and instead convict her of third-degree murder, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 to 40 years in prison.
Manning also could side with Patarini and acquit Curry-Demus, ruling that she's legally insane.
