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Judge Finds Man Insane in Wife Stabbing

Posted on: Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 15:01 CDT

OLYMPIA, Wash. - An 83-year-old man was insane when he stabbed his wife, possibly because of a reaction to antidepressant medication, a judge ruled in finding the man innocent by reason of insanity.

The ruling came as Eric Attwood's trial on an attempted murder charge was about to begin Monday. Prosecutors did not object.

Judge Christine A. Pomeroy ordered that Attwood continue to receive mental health and medical treatment, take medications as prescribed and accept monitoring by a probation officer.

Defense lawyers conceded that Attwood stabbed his wife of 60 years while she was sleeping on Oct. 3, but they argued that it was caused by a bad reaction to the prescription antidepressant Wellbutrin. Attwood had been taking the drug for 12 days.

The Food and Drug Administration announced in 2004 that Wellbutrin was one of several antidepressants that could increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors in children or adolescents. It issued a similar warning for adults last year but said more study was needed.

The attack left Margaret Attwood with a 7-inch scar down one side of her neck.

Her husband has been taking a different antidepressant since then and has been prescribed antipsychotics, and the difference is "night and day," defense lawyer Jeffery P. Robinson said.

Attwood, who is from Yelm, has been at a family group home since June, when he was released from Western State Hospital following a mental evaluation. The judge scheduled a hearing for Sept. 12 to determine whether he will be allowed to return home.

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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