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The trial of Adrian Loya continues this morning. Loya, a former Coast Guard member, is accused of shooting Lisa Trubnikova and her wife Anna Trubnikova on February 5, 2015, killing Lisa and injuring Anna. Both were also members of the Coast Guard. Loya is also charged for shooting and injuring Police Officer Jared MacDonald, who responded to the scene.
Loya allegedly broke into the couple’s Massachusetts home armed with multiple guns before opening fire on them, with a video camera strapped to his body to record the carnage.
According to police, Loya wrote a 250-page manifesto detailing why he wanted to kill Lisa. Her family has said Loya had been obsessed with Lisa since they were stationed together.
Loya’s attorneys have claimed that he should not be held responsible because he suffers from mental illness. He was previously examined by a psychiatrist and deemed competent to stand trial, but his defense team had him evaluated by a private psychiatrist as well.
On Wednesday, Dr. Martin Kelly, a medical examiner called by the prosecution, didn’t do them any favors when he said that Loya was not attracted to Lisa and was not the type to be an initial aggressor. This, despite security footage of him being an aggressor while in a mental health facility. Dr. Kelly also said that because Loya has Asperger Syndrome, he wasn’t able to conform his behavior to what’s legal.
A second examiner, Dr. David Holtzen then took the stand and discredited what Kelly said. Holtzen testified that, in his opinion, Loya is “criminally responsible” for what he did. Holtzen is expected to continue testifying on Thursday.
Also on Thursday, the jury will get to see footage from a GoPro camera worn by Loya during the shooting. The footage is silent and will not be aired by LawNewz‘s camera in the courtroom.
Stay with LawNewz.com and the LawNewz Network for continuing coverage of this case.
[Image via Cape Cod Times]