GALVESTON, Texas – While not unexpected, court documents filed June 6 spell out for the first time that Dimitrios Pagourtzis may seek an insanity defense against capital murder charges in connection with last year's massacre at Santa Fe High School.
Pagourtzis is accused of killing eight classmates and two educators during the May 18, 2018, rampage.
The notice came in an order filed by Judge John Ellisor. The order allows prosecutors to have Pagourtzis evaluated by their own experts.
“As the defendant has indicated that he intends to raise the insanity defense in this capital murder trial, and as law mandates that the state do more than just rely on cross examination of the defense experts on the issue of insanity, the state is therefore entitled to have its own experts interview, test, and examine the defendant,” the order reads.
Defense attorneys have said their client has been undergoing a battery of tests to determine his mental competency. However, defense attorney Nicholas Poehl told KPRC2 that while the judge’s order reads as such, they have not formally notified the court they intend to seek this defense during trial.
At 2 p.m. Friday, Judge Ellisor is expected to announce where the trial will be held. Earlier this year, the judge granted the defense’s motion for a change of venue.
This story is developing.
At 2pm a Galveston County Judge will announce change of venue location for charged Santa Fe High shooter, Dimitrios...
Posted by KPRC2 Robert Arnold on Friday, June 21, 2019