By Katherine Ramsland
(Continued)
In addition to the other items, according to CNN's coverage, jurors heard how Braunstein posed as a Hurricane Katrina victim, three months after the devastating weather incident, while he was wandering around in Tennessee. He apparently believed it would help him get free meals and shelter. But he also stated that he'd intended to go to New Orleans to lead a group of survivors in a protest, because he viewed them, like himself, as having an "end-of-the-world" philosophy. Dr. Barr believed this arose from grandiose notions about himself rather than from a psychotic delusion, although he apparently wanted to die.
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| Peter Braunstein |
It was the trial judge, Justice Thomas Farber, who outside the jury's hearing raised the issue that schizophrenia did not preclude the ability to plan and form criminal intent. Prosecutor Maxine Rosenthal picked up on this idea in her closing argument, while Robert Gottlieb continued to hammer home the notion that Braunstein had a broken brain, particularly in the area where planning occurs.
Apparently, the jury agreed with the judge and decided that Braunstein had indeed formed criminal intent. On Wednesday, May 23, 2007, after four hours of deliberations that included an analysis of the defendant's bizarre journals, they convicted Peter Braunstein of kidnapping, sex abuse, robbery and burglary, but acquitted him of second-degree arson. He faces 25 years to life. Sentencing will be decided later.
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