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He dragged her into a ‘very dark place’: Psychiatrist testifies in Michelle Carter’s defense
Closing arguments are scheduled for 2:30 EST
Controversial psychiatrist Peter Breggin testified on behalf of defendant Michelle Carter in the texting-suicide case.
Carter, is accused of persuading her boyfriend, Conrad Roy III, to kill himself via text in 2014. Prosecutors allege she engaged in a “sick game of life and death,” triggering the 18-year-old boy’s suicide. Read the texts she sent him here.
“There’s no criminal intent here,” said Breggin, but was swiftly interrupted by an objection from the judge for the absolute assertion.
Breggin said he relied on Carter’s texts for insight into her mental state, and said under oath he believes Carter cannot be held responsible for encouraging her boyfriend to commit suicide due to the side effects of the defendant’s antidepressant, Celexa.
The prosecution refuted the psychiatrist’s account, claiming Carter was untruthful and “reliable,” asserting she’d have to be fully mentally capable to successfully pull off telling friends Roy was missing while simultaneously encouraging his suicide as it unfolded.
Breggin said Carter was confused and delusional, but the prosecution believes she was testing how her friends would react to Roy’s death. “Carter wanted to know how her friends would react if he actually killed himself.”
In another text, Carter’s friend tells her she doesn’t like when ppl lie to her — Carter had told the friend she was dealing with her eating disorder, the friend didn’t believe her. The prosecution notes Carter lied to that same friend when she said Roy was missing two days before he actually killed himself.
In a text that surfaced this morning, Carter says “What’s the 1 thing worth living for?” Roy: “My family.”
He dragged her into a ‘very dark place’ before his death, Breggin says, arguing she didn’t have control over what she was doing.
Carter is currently pleading not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter. Closing arguments are scheduled for 2.30 ETS.
>babe will be following the case with further updates on the trial.