Baumhammers' Father Cries During Trial

Defense Begins Giving Evidence

The father of a man accused of a killing five people and crippling another cried Thursday as defense attorneys began presenting evidence that they said shows a history of mental illness leading up to a shooting spree last year.

The Trial:
Day 6:

Haney Testifies At Trial
Day 5:

Parisian Cafe Owner, Police Chief Testify
Day 4:Officer James Mann Testifies
Day 3:Sandip Patel Testifies
Day 2: Testimony Continues At Baumhammers' Trial
Day 1: Baumhammers Trial Opens
Almost 1 Year Later, Baumhammers Trial Begins

Survey: Can Baumhammers Be Tried Fairly In Allegheny County?
Plea Bargains Offered
Did He Research Alleged Victims?

Pre-Trial Stories:
Suspect Ruled Competent
Mourners Gather At Synagogue
Suspect Arraigned
Victim's Kin
Woman Has Close Call
Hear Baumhammers' Personal Ad

Rabbis Call For End To Violence
D.A. Says Note Could Reveal Hate Motive
Who Is Richard Baumhammers?

Defense attorneys for Richard Baumhammers, 35, contend that he is mentally ill and not responsible for killing five people and wounding a sixth in Allegheny and Beaver counties during a 90-minute shooting spree on April 28, 2000. As psychiatrist and neurologist Dr. James Merikangas began testifying, defense attorney William Difenderfer presented documents Merikangas used to diagnose Baumhammers with a delusional disorder that prevented him from telling right from wrong. With Merikangas' testimony, Difenderfer presented a timeline of milestones in Baumhammers' life, from his birth to his most recent efforts to get psychiatric help. The timeline also detailed the 19 anti-psychotic and other drugs he has taken. Merikangas testified that he drew up the timeline with the help of Baumhammers' medical records, interviews of family and friends and other information. The psychiatrist also looked through the seven diaries Inese Baumhammers kept about her son's mental illness and the family's efforts to control it. The defense told the jury about Baumhammers' childhood illnesses, including a time that he was hospitalized as a baby for a stomach virus. "That can cause brain damage, so that's of interest," Merikangas testified. Baumhammers first went to a child psychologist around the age of 5 because his mother reported that her son had developed a tick, became very clingy and often asked his mother if she loved him, Merikangas testified. Later, Baumhammers became increasingly more delusional and paranoid and was diagnosed by at least two psychiatrist as having a delusional disorder, Merikangas said. Difenderfer showed the juries two letters Baumhammers sent to Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and state Attorney General Mike Fisher. The letters detailed Baumhammers' beliefs that he was being followed and harassed by the FBI. "I was trailed, shadowed and harassed by a team of FBI agents 24 hours a day," Baumhammers wrote in one letter. Defense attorneys have said that Baumhammers believed that the FBI was following and shooting lasers at him, and that he somehow melded a dislike of immigrants into those delusions after reading an anti-immigration book a couple of years before the shootings. They have not disputed that Baumhammers shot the victims. Prosecutor Edward Borkowski said last week that Baumhammers was a misguided loner who adored Hitler and Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and who had no delusional disorder. The prosecution wrapped up its case early on Thursday with testimony from a police detective who is an expert in computer evidence. Detective Timothy Haney detailed Baumhammers' visits to Internet sites devoted to white supremacy. Some of the sites related to the so-called "14 Words" that are said to drive white supremacists. The message relates to protecting the future for white children. Haney collected evidence from the Gateway computer that Baumhammers used at his parents' house in Mt. Lebanon, an affluent suburb of Pittsburgh. He said that the sites visited in April 2000 included one with pictures of David Koresh's compound in Waco, Texas, and "Jerry's Aryan Battle Page." Questioned by Difenderfer, Haney said that he could not be sure that Baumhammers was the one using the computer. He also said that he did not know how long each site was visited. Baumhammers Web Sites

On Wednesday, an inmate in the Allegheny County Jail where Baumhammers is staying testified. Leslie Haun, 36, is jailed awaiting sentencing for a robbery conviction. He said that Baumhammers gave him articles about the Confederate flag and cross burnings and offered him autographs, saying they may be worth something someday. Baumhammers faces the possible death penalty if he's convicted of shooting six people, five of whom eventually died, on April 28, 2000. Prosecutors said that Baumhammers was a frustrated white supremacist who picked his victims because of their ethnic backgrounds. Baumhammers allegedly shot a Jewish woman, two Indian men, two Asian men, and a black man. Baumhammers' attorneys contend he is mentally ill and is not responsible for his actions. Previous Stories: