Attorneys, witnesses discuss psychosis symptoms in attempted murder trial
As the trial of a man accused of attempting to kill his wife continued Friday, the attorneys and witnesses zeroed in on the effects of one drug in particular: Prednisone.
Typically used to treat inflammation, defense attorney Joshua Rubin called psychiatrist Dr. Gerald Shiener to testify on how Prednisone may have affected Gregory Ringel's perception of reality when he fired a shotgun at his wife in March 2022.
Ringel admitted to the shooting when questioned by the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office, but is now saying he is innocent due to temporary insanity. The defense stated he was taking Prednisone in March 2022 because his arm was injured.
Throughout the week, both Rubin and St. Clair County Senior Prosecutor Joshua Sparling have alluded to Ringel's claim that he thought he was duck hunting with his father, who died in 2011, when he woke up in the night and fired the shotgun.
During a recording of Ringel's confession played for the jury, he admits to Det. Timothy O'Donnell he shot at his wife. When asked about his motive, however, Ringel repeatedly said he did not remember making a decision to shoot her.
Shiener, who was called as an early defense witness Friday morning due to scheduling issues, said that wouldn't be unusual.
"They may think they're crazy to withhold the information from people," Shiener said.
Shiener testified that heavier doses of Prednisone can cause "steroid-induced psychosis" which can cause patients to act irrationally.
"They enter this fight or flight (mindset) where none exists," Shiener said.
Sparling has refuted the claim, saying Ringel acted intentionally after a woman who he was having an affair with told him he would have to leave his wife. The prosecutor has repeatedly asked witnesses if Ringel appeared intoxicated or otherwise mentally compromised during interactions with him before and after the shooting. So far each witness, including police officers, detectives and his girlfriend have all said they didn't notice any changes to his behavior.
On Friday a family doctor at the office Ringel was receiving treatment from testified Ringel made no mention of issues with his medication, both before the shooting and during an appointment the day after the shooting.
Sparling also called Ringel's wife, who has since divorced him, and asked if he made any mention of hallucinations or duck hunting with his father. She testified that the first time she heard of him hallucinating was in November 2023, more than a year after the shooting.
Ringel is charged with assault with intent to murder, punishable with up to life in prison. He has also been charged with discharging a firearm in a building, punishable with up to 10 years in prison; tampering with evidence, up to 10 years; false report of a felony, up to 4 years; and two counts of felony firearm use, up to 2 years each.
Contact Johnathan Hogan at jhogan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Port Huron Times Herald: Attorneys, witnesses discuss psychosis in attempted murder trial
