LAWFUEL – The Legal Newswire – Former astronaut Lisa Nowak plans to claim she was temporarily insane when she attacked Colleen Shipman on Feb. 5 at the Orlando International Airport.
Her attorney, Donald Lykkebak, filed a notice of this type of defense late Monday with the Orange County Clerk of Courts.
Some of the reasons listed in the notice, include major depressive disorder, insomnia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The plea also notes Nowak’s marriage problems and inability to confide in family members or others.
It also diagnosis Nowak with Asperger’s Disorder, a condition with autistic-like symptoms that causes problems with social skills and can lead to eccentric behavior.
This is the first hint of the type of defense Lykkebak will present if the case goes to trial next month. Details of any psychiatric evaluations will not be made public — a decision made months ago by Orange Circuit Court Judge Marc Lubet.
“Court rules dictate that the defense provide notice of mental health issues in a criminal case,” according to a statement released by Lykkebak’s office today. “Even the most naive observer should recognize that Lisa Nowak’s behavior on February 5 was uncharacteristic and unpredicted for such an accomplished person with no criminal record or history of violence. We have mental health experts to help explain this brief episode.”
