Hatchet Attack Suspect Ruled Not Guilty, Insanity

MARSHALL � A man accused of a hatchet attack at a Marshall Wal-Mart has been found not guilty by reason of insanity. The bench trial for Christopher Lynn Hamilton, was held Thursday. The attacks occurred last December. Marshall police Detective Sonya Johnson said that Hamilton, a transient of Crawford, Arkansas, allegedly had the hatchet with him when he entered the store. Two female workers and a male shopper were attacked. Both store employees received minor injuries. The customer was slightly hurt trying to help the workers and he didn’t seek medical help. Hamilton fled the store following the attack. He was found in a wooded area near the store.

The insanity diagnosis, filed in the District Clerk�s office on August 19, was made by psychologist Dr. Thomas G. Allen, who was appointed August 6 by 71st Judicial District Judge Brad Morin to perform a psychiatric evaluation on Hamilton. That evaluation had been requested by Hamilton�s court-appointed attorney, Kyle Dansby. Dansby filed a notice of intent on Aug. 4 to raise the issue of insanity and then filed a motion Aug. 6 for examination regarding insanity.

�It appears to this examiner, with a reasonable degree of scientific certainty, that at the time of the conduct charged the defendant, Christopher Hamilton, was legally insane,� Allen said, �At the time, the defendant was unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions due to the presence of severe mental disease or defect. Namely, the defendant was suffering from schizophrenia, undifferentiated type. The defendant did not know his conduct was wrong as defined by the laws of the state of Texas.�

Allen indicated that Hamilton�s behavior is consistent with onset of schizophrenia during the developmental years. �The history provided and the symptom presentation is consistent with what is known about schizophrenia, its onset and symptom pattern,� said Allen. �The defendant�s presentation was not melodramatic and malingering does not appear to be an issue.�