A former Florida State University scholar who randomly killed a pair of their storage six years in the past – chewing on one victim’s face – goes to trial on Monday.
Circuit Judge Sherwood Bauer will resolve whether or not Austin Harrouff, then 19 years old, was insane when he killed 59-year-old John Stevens and his 53-year-old spouse Michelle Mishcon Stevens in August 2016.
The 25-year-old additionally severely injured the neighbor who got here to the couple’s assist.
Police discovered him, practically nude, biting chunks off John Stevens’ face and it took a number of officers, a stun gun and a police canine to subdue him.
Harrouff has pleaded not responsible by purpose of insanity to two counts of first-degree murder and different prices for his slayings.
FILE – This Oct. 3, 2016, picture, offered by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office, exhibits Austin Harrouff. Harrouff, a former faculty scholar who killed a Florida couple of their storage six years earlier after which chewed on one sufferer’s face, is lastly set to go on trial, Monday, Nov. 21, 2022.
((Martin County Sheriff’s Office through AP, File))
The trial had been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as properly as authorized wranglings and Harrouff’s restoration from essential accidents suffered whereas consuming a chemical throughout the assault.
If convicted, Harrouff can be sentenced to life in jail with out the chance of parole.
Prosecutors waived the dying penalty.
If dominated insane, he can be dedicated to a safe psychological hospital till docs and a judge agree that he’s now not harmful.
Under Florida state law, defendants are presumed sane.
The entrance to Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla.
((Photo by: Education Images/Universal Images Group through Getty Images))
IDAHO INVESTIGATORS RULE OUT CONNECTION BETWEEN COLLEGE MURDERS AND OTHER UNSOLVED STABBINGS
Harrouff has stated that he was fleeing a demon he referred to as Daniel when he attacked the couple and psychological well being specialists employed by the prosecutors and the protection discovered that he suffered an acute psychotic episode throughout the assault.
They additionally famous that he couldn’t distinguish between proper and unsuitable.
A second knowledgeable who stated Harrouff was sane was lately withdrawn by prosecutors, saying he has severe well being points.
A 3rd knowledgeable believes Harrouff was on a drug that did not seem in post-arrest exams, however has not examined him.
Austin Harrouff is transported by detectives to the Martin County Jail from St. Mary’s Hospital in Stuart, Florida.
(Richard Graulich/Palm Beach Post through AP)
Investigators discovered he bought some hallucinogenic mushrooms a number of days earlier than the assault, however pals stated he destroyed them and no hint was present in his blood.
Harrouff additionally did Google searches for “how to know if you are going crazy.”
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His mother and father stated their son had acted unusually for weeks and arrange an appointment for him to be evaluated – however the assault occurred first.
Harrouff stated he solely has imprecise recollections of the killings, together with being yelled at and grabbing a machete.
He would not bear in mind why he did it.
“It’s like it happened, but I wasn’t aware of it,” he stated.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.