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Mental Health Meds Will Play Role in Marin TrialBy Dave Franzman, ReporterRelated Content
CEDAR RAPIDS - Can the use of a common anti-depressant drug lead to suicidal thoughts or even violence in young adults?
Jurors in the Kyle Marin murder trial now underway in Cedar Rapids may get a chance to consider that question next week. Marin is facing two first degree murder charges in the beating and stabbing deaths of Molly Edmondson and Katrina Hill. The 18-year-old cousins were found dead in a Cedar Rapids apartment in April of 2006. Marin's attorneys have admitted he killed the women. But they are claiming insanity or diminished responsibility due to medication he was taking for mental problems. Defense experts are expected to take the stand next week. Marin isn't the first trial to use unexpected consequences from medication as a way to lessen criminal responsibility. A number of other cases have used what some call the "Zoloft defense." Zoloft is a well-known drug used to treat depression. Research has shown a very slight increase in suicidal thoughts and possible aggression for some users. That's especially true for young adults. Zoloft was one of the drugs Marin was taking to treat his medical problems. He was released from a hospital psychiatric unit just days before the murders. Marin's attorneys are expected to call medical experts who will try to show jurors that Zoloft and similar drugs Marin was taking played a role in what happened. But one psychiatrist told TV9 such defenses have not worked well in other cases. Dr. Chris Okiishi said "I'm not a legal expert, but as far as I know people have not been able to use this defense to successfully exonerate themselves from murder." The Marin trial was in recess on Friday due to scheduling conflicts. Trial resumes Monday morning with the defense expert witnesses expected on Wednesday. More Good Stuff |
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