Prosecutors, defense seek not guilty by reason of insanity in Parsippany killing
A Morris County judge in the coming weeks is expected to decide if a Parsippany man can't be held responsible by reason of insanity in the 2020 stabbing death of his housemate.
During a one-day bench trial Tuesday before Judge Stephen Taylor, prosecutors did not contest a forensic psychiatrist's findings that David Lopez, 20, had "bipolar manic with psychotic features" when he used a 7-inch kitchen knife to wound Antonio DeJesus, 34, over 100 times on Nov. 22, 2020. The mental illness can bring extreme mood swings and coupled with psychotic features, can bring about hallucinations, delusions and paranoia, according to several medical reports.
DeJesus' death was a result of several sharp force injuries, including a large and deep wound to the neck which severed his jugular vein and carotid artery as well as deep stab wounds to his upper chest and abdomen, Tara Wang, a Morris assistant prosecutor, said, referencing a medical examiner's report.
A resident of the home called police around 9 a.m. after Lopez allegedly came down the stairs covered in blood and said "I just killed him," police have said. When officers arrived, Lopez, who was sitting in a chair outside the Troy Road home, told them "I tried to kill myself," police have said.
For the first time Tuesday, Wang said Lopez also continuously repeated to the officers, "The devil made me do this" and "Now we are free to go to heaven."
While en route to the hospital, Lopez told EMS staff that he killed the victim, later telling police at the hospital he cut the victim until he died because DeJesus' body was possessed by "the Martian or devil," Wang said Tuesday.
The psychiatrist opined that Lopez "did not know that what he was doing was wrong" due to his mental health at the time of the offense and as a result, was not criminally responsible for his conduct. Prosecutors waived their right to question the doctor in court.
DeJesus' body was found in a pool of blood in an upstairs bedroom with the blood-covered kitchen knife police say Lopez used nearby.
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Lopez has been receiving treatment at the Ann Klein Forensic Center, a psychiatric hospital in Trenton, since his arrest. Wearing a disposable face mask and a red sweatshirt, Lopez appeared coherent, although did not speak much during Tuesday's virtual hearing.
Lopez did not contest his confinement at Ann Klein during a detention hearing in June, seven months after his arrest.
Taylor's written decision is expected to be released by mid-December. Should he rule Lopez not guilty by reason of insanity, Lopez will be acquitted of three criminal charges for first-degree murder and two weapons offenses. The judge would then determine if Lopez should be released back into the community with or without conditions or be committed to a psychiatric hospital.
Lori Comstock can be reached on Twitter: @LoriComstockNJH, on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/LoriComstockNJH or by phone: 973-383-1194.
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Parsippany NJ: Attorneys seek not guilty by reason of insanity
