Texas Massacre Suspect Falls to Knees During Court Appearance - East Idaho News
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Texas Massacre Suspect Falls to Knees During Court Appearance

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HT haskell mug shot 2 sk 140710 16x9 992?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1405092164004Harris County Sheriff’s Department(HOUSTON) — The Texas man accused of killing four children and two adults collapsed twice during his arraignment Friday as his lawyer argued that he was “not criminally responsible.”

Ron Haskell, 33, slumped to his knees as the prosecutor read an account by a 15-year-old girl, the sole survivor of his alleged rampage.

Haskell started swaying before he dropped to the floor during Friday morning’s arraignment on a capital murder charge and had to be helped back into his chair by deputies. He later fell to his knees a second time and was eventually wheeled out of the courtroom on an office chair.

His attorney, Doug Durham, said that Haskell was “off his meds during the shooting” and “not criminally responsible” when he allegedly broke into the home of his ex-wife’s sister Wednesday night, shooting his former sister-in-law, his former brother-in-law, and five children. Cassidy Stay, 15, was the only survivor.

The lawyer said Haskell had been given a “cocktail of meds” by jail authorities.

Durham said that the former delivery truck driver had a “diminished capacity” and was “not criminally responsible.” Haskell was blank-faced throughout and emotionless during the hearing.

The victims were Cassidy’s parents, Katie and Stephen Stay, and four children — two boys and two girls between the ages of 4 and 13. Cassidy Stay survived despite being shot in the head and was able to call 911 to alert police that Haskell was allegedly planning to drive to kill other relatives.

“We did intercede (Haskell’s) vehicle en route to the second location that the surviving victim was able to tell us about,” Harris County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Ryan Sullivan told ABC News.

Cassidy, who has been hailed as a hero by her grandparents, is hospitalized with a head wound, but is expected to make a full recovery.


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