A 16-year-old US high school student charged in the fatal stabbing of a classmate on the day of the end-of-year prom dance is showing signs of an active psychosis, his attorney said today.
Christopher Plaskon, who made his first court appearance today, is charged with murder in the slaying of Maren Sanchez, a friend who was stabbed to death last week in a hallway at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.
Plaskon showed no visible emotion during the brief hearing. He had handcuffs and leg shackles and no shoes as he stood next to his attorneys and his uncle Paul Healy, who was appointed his guardian.
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Plaskon was ordered transferred to a juvenile prison, where he will be placed at a hospital under suicide watch. He will not enter a plea until after a probable cause hearing, which is scheduled for June 4.
His attorney, Richard Meehan, did not provide details of Plaskon's condition, but he did say the boy understands he's charged with murder and that Meehan is his attorney.
"I do believe he's sick," Meehan said, noting Plaskon had been under an emergency commitment and will continue to receive psychiatric care. "Obviously what we don't want to see another tragedy on top of the one that has already taken place here. We want to make sure that this young man is appropriately maintained while we do our job."
The attack occurred last today, hours before the prom, the traditional US end-of-year dance for students in their last two years of high school. Police have been investigating whether it was related to Sanchez's refusal to be Plaskon's prom date.
Meehan said Plaskon's parents wanted to attend the hearing, but he recommended against it because he believed it would be too difficult. He said they are in seclusion. "All their hearts are broken," Meehan said, referring to Plaskon's family. "I think the word numb is probably the best word I could use to describe what these people are going through"
State's Attorney Kevin Lawlor decided Plaskon will be prosecuted as an adult, citing state law. Plaskon, who is being held on USD 3 million bond, faces up to 60 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of 25 years if found guilty of murder, Lawlor said.
"This case is being treated as seriously as one can be," Lawlor said after the hearing. "I think what hits closest to home for everyone, particularly in this community, is that this happened inside of a school and it happened to an individual as young and as promising as this victim.
