05-24-2006, 04:34 PM
Former firefighter judged delusional during killing spree
Photos by Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal
Defense attorney Gerald Skahan looks back to his client, Frederick Williams, after Judge Arthur Bennett declared Williams not guilty by reason of insanity in the killings of his wife, two firefighters and a sheriff's deputy.
William Blakemore Jr., the son of slain firefighter Pvt. William Blakemore, said he felt they lost Monday when Williams was found not guilty by reason of insanity in four killings.Story Tools
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Lawyer says Williams' chance for recovery is remote
By Lawrence Buser
Contact
May 23, 2006
Calling it the hardest decision he's had to make in 30 years on the bench, a judge Monday found a former firefighter who killed his wife, two colleagues and a sheriff's deputy not guilty by reason of insanity.
Criminal Court Judge Arthur Bennett, who is retiring in August, agreed with mental health experts who testified for the defense last month that Frederick Williams had a severe mental disease and did not know right from wrong when he went on the shooting rampage on March 8, 2000.
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"Each expert and lay witness indicated that the defendant suffered from severe delusions which led him to believe he was being watched and listened to and poisoned by an organization called the New World Order," Bennett said, reading from his 50-page opinion. "He believed his wife and colleagues were part of this organization and he believed he was being ridiculed, drugged and raped by members of this organization."
Bennett then added, "I'm deeply saddened by all these losses. I could hardly sleep the last few days because it preyed on my mind."
Prosecutors had argued that Williams acted with premeditation, reloading his shotgun at least once and choosing whom to shoot and whom not to shoot.
When the judge announced his decision, several members of victims' families left the courtroom and could be heard shouting and wailing in the hallway. More security was called, but there were no more incidents.
The shootings occurred at the Williams home at 4217 Germantown Road South, where he killed his wife of less than a month, Stacey Williams, as she came home for lunch. Frederick Williams then set fire to the house and opened fire on sheriff's deputy Rupert Peete Jr. and firefighters Lt. Javier Lerma and Pvt. William Blakemore as they arrived to help.
Insanity defenses are rare and rarely successful.
Defense attorney Arthur Quinn and co-counsel Gerald Skahan were pleased with the ruling but said there were no winners in the case.
"March 8 was one of the most horrendous days in Shelby County history," said Quinn. "Four lives were lost and three of them were heroes. Their families have suffered tremendously."
Williams was acquitted of four counts of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted first-degree murder, six counts of aggravated assault and one count of arson.
"Shocked, stunned, upset, anything you can think of," said William Blakemore Jr. when asked his reaction to the judge's decision. "More than anything we're just extremely disappointed. We're trying to move on, but it's going to be hard."
Then, addressing other survivors of the victims, Blakemore said, "I thought this was going to be the last day we'd be talking about this. I wasn't expecting it."
Williams' brother, Larry Williams, was not expecting the ruling either.
"I'm a pessimist at heart so I was prepared for the worst," said Larry Williams. "I'm pleased. I think the judge made the right decision. I'm sorry for the families who lost their loved ones. We can't turn back the hands of time, but we're saddened."
Asked if he thought his brother might one day be released, Williams replied, "Let's let the due process of the courts work now."
Lawyers on both sides agreed to the non-jury bench trial before Bennett to eliminate the chance of a hung jury or a mistrial if Williams' mental condition deteriorated to the point where the trial could not go forward. Prosecutors also agreed to drop their request for the death penalty.
Defense attorneys had the burden of proving with clear and convincing evidence that Williams had a severe mental disease that prevented him from understanding that what he was doing was wrong.
Several psychiatrists and psychologists testified for the defense, saying Williams did not know right from wrong and that he suffers from a variety of mental illnesses including paranoid schizophrenia.
Williams has spent the past four years at the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute in Nashville, where he will be returned this week. With the judge's ruling, Williams will undergo a new evaluation within 90 days.
Under the law, he will be kept there or at some other secure facility for an indefinite period, and doctors will send a report to the court every six months.
He cannot be released until a court determines that he is not a danger to himself or to others.
Defense attorney Quinn, who called Bennett's ruling "a courageous decision," said Williams' chances for recovery and release are "pretty small for the distant future. The prognosis is very bleak."
-- Lawrence Buser 529-2385
Photos by Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal
Defense attorney Gerald Skahan looks back to his client, Frederick Williams, after Judge Arthur Bennett declared Williams not guilty by reason of insanity in the killings of his wife, two firefighters and a sheriff's deputy.
William Blakemore Jr., the son of slain firefighter Pvt. William Blakemore, said he felt they lost Monday when Williams was found not guilty by reason of insanity in four killings.Story Tools
E-mail this story | Print
Lawyer says Williams' chance for recovery is remote
By Lawrence Buser
Contact
May 23, 2006
Calling it the hardest decision he's had to make in 30 years on the bench, a judge Monday found a former firefighter who killed his wife, two colleagues and a sheriff's deputy not guilty by reason of insanity.
Criminal Court Judge Arthur Bennett, who is retiring in August, agreed with mental health experts who testified for the defense last month that Frederick Williams had a severe mental disease and did not know right from wrong when he went on the shooting rampage on March 8, 2000.
Advertisement
HP Vectra VLi8 Desktop
Click here to buy
"Each expert and lay witness indicated that the defendant suffered from severe delusions which led him to believe he was being watched and listened to and poisoned by an organization called the New World Order," Bennett said, reading from his 50-page opinion. "He believed his wife and colleagues were part of this organization and he believed he was being ridiculed, drugged and raped by members of this organization."
Bennett then added, "I'm deeply saddened by all these losses. I could hardly sleep the last few days because it preyed on my mind."
Prosecutors had argued that Williams acted with premeditation, reloading his shotgun at least once and choosing whom to shoot and whom not to shoot.
When the judge announced his decision, several members of victims' families left the courtroom and could be heard shouting and wailing in the hallway. More security was called, but there were no more incidents.
The shootings occurred at the Williams home at 4217 Germantown Road South, where he killed his wife of less than a month, Stacey Williams, as she came home for lunch. Frederick Williams then set fire to the house and opened fire on sheriff's deputy Rupert Peete Jr. and firefighters Lt. Javier Lerma and Pvt. William Blakemore as they arrived to help.
Insanity defenses are rare and rarely successful.
Defense attorney Arthur Quinn and co-counsel Gerald Skahan were pleased with the ruling but said there were no winners in the case.
"March 8 was one of the most horrendous days in Shelby County history," said Quinn. "Four lives were lost and three of them were heroes. Their families have suffered tremendously."
Williams was acquitted of four counts of first-degree murder, three counts of attempted first-degree murder, six counts of aggravated assault and one count of arson.
"Shocked, stunned, upset, anything you can think of," said William Blakemore Jr. when asked his reaction to the judge's decision. "More than anything we're just extremely disappointed. We're trying to move on, but it's going to be hard."
Then, addressing other survivors of the victims, Blakemore said, "I thought this was going to be the last day we'd be talking about this. I wasn't expecting it."
Williams' brother, Larry Williams, was not expecting the ruling either.
"I'm a pessimist at heart so I was prepared for the worst," said Larry Williams. "I'm pleased. I think the judge made the right decision. I'm sorry for the families who lost their loved ones. We can't turn back the hands of time, but we're saddened."
Asked if he thought his brother might one day be released, Williams replied, "Let's let the due process of the courts work now."
Lawyers on both sides agreed to the non-jury bench trial before Bennett to eliminate the chance of a hung jury or a mistrial if Williams' mental condition deteriorated to the point where the trial could not go forward. Prosecutors also agreed to drop their request for the death penalty.
Defense attorneys had the burden of proving with clear and convincing evidence that Williams had a severe mental disease that prevented him from understanding that what he was doing was wrong.
Several psychiatrists and psychologists testified for the defense, saying Williams did not know right from wrong and that he suffers from a variety of mental illnesses including paranoid schizophrenia.
Williams has spent the past four years at the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute in Nashville, where he will be returned this week. With the judge's ruling, Williams will undergo a new evaluation within 90 days.
Under the law, he will be kept there or at some other secure facility for an indefinite period, and doctors will send a report to the court every six months.
He cannot be released until a court determines that he is not a danger to himself or to others.
Defense attorney Quinn, who called Bennett's ruling "a courageous decision," said Williams' chances for recovery and release are "pretty small for the distant future. The prognosis is very bleak."
-- Lawrence Buser 529-2385