Defense Rests In Thompson Trial

The defense has rested in the murder trial of Edwin Thompson. Dr. Lyle Christopherson is Thompson’s treating psychologist. He told jurors Thompson suffers from chronic persistent severe schitzophrenic paranoia and that individuals with this worst form of the mental illness do not like taking corrective medications because the believe they are not sick. They also tend to have a lack of awareness of what is going on. Christopherson also said Thompson showed signs of halucinations in the days prior to the murder of Ryan Treadway. States Attorney Mike Moore questioned Christopherson that he didn’t perform a forensic psychiatic evaluation, for a criminal investigation. Moore under cross-examination also challenged Christopherson’s ethics citing rules that recommend treating psychologists not perform fornesic evaluations for criminal cases on those they treat. Dr. Frank Dame also testified that Thompson showed signs of severe mental illness. He performed the competency evaluations of Thompson and told the Beadle County States Attorneys office he was not certified to conduct forensic pysch exams, however did testify for the defense as an expert. The prosecuton will call rebuttal witness this afternoon