Card #43: Trial Day 19 complete · Heilbrun interrupted; mistrial denied
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Heilbrun offered a nonpsychotic suicidal-filicide explanation before an excluded religion reference prompted a denied mistrial motion, a curative instruction, and early dismissal.
[SWORN TESTIMONY] Prosecution rebuttal psychologist Kirk Heilbrun diagnosed bipolar II disorder but rejected acute psychosis and command hallucinations as the explanation for the killings. He instead described a suicidal or altruistic-filicide theory. [VERIFIED FACT] A religion reference prompted an objection, a defense mistrial motion, and argument outside the jury's presence. Judge William Sullivan denied the mistrial, struck the religion testimony, instructed jurors to disregard it, and dismissed them early. [VERIFIED FACT] Heilbrun did not complete testimony; the judge said he understood the Commonwealth expected one additional witness after Heilbrun. Testimony resumes Tuesday, with closings expected Wednesday. [UNKNOWN] No verdict occurred, and no new scene or third-party evidence changed the staging assessment.
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