OSKALOOSA —
Two mental health professionals gave their assessments of Brad Arterburn in Day 6 of his first-degree murder trial in Mahaska County District Court.
Arterburn, 27, of Oskaloosa, has been charged with the first-degree murder of his mother’s boyfriend, Robert Henry “Hank” Horovitz, 58, of Davenport, on June 19, 2011. Arterburn entered a plea of not guilty in Mahaska County Court July 12, 2011.
Psychiatrist Dr. James Dennert testified for the prosecution and clinical psychologist Craig Rypma testified for the defense.
Dennert examined Arterburn in September and conducted interviews with him and reviewed records and testimony concerning the case.
Dennert determined that Arterburn’s state of mind was such that he understood the nature and consequences of his actions, he understood the difference between right and wrong and acted with intent.
Dennert also determined that Arterburn was not in a disassociative state at the time of his interview with DCI agent Adam De Camp.
Dennert said that when Arterburn said he was having flashbacks during court testimony Monday, he was not having one in psychiatric terms. Dennert said he did not indicate that he was reliving actual events while in the courtroom. He was likely having vivid memories of abuse.
Also, Dennert said that Arterburn did not have a psychotic episode on June 19, 2011.
Dennert said he diagnosed Arterburn with a depressive disorder.
Rypma said he examined Arterburn and administered the MMPI test, an objective test of a person’s state of mind. He said the results of the test showed that Arterburn had elevated results to indicate psychotic thinking and a mood disturbance.
Rypma also said Arterburn has an IQ of 91, which is on the low end of the normal category.
Rypma observed Arterburn on the witness stand Monday and said that showed a person with a 91 IQ interacting with people whose IQs were 120. It also showed that Arterburn is a person who is open to suggestion and easily led to desired answers.
Rypma said Arterburn suffered from “black feelings” throughout his teen years. Rypma said those are similar to alcohol-induced blackouts people have.
Rypma said a review of the DCI interview indicated that Arterburn was confused during questioning.
Rypma said he determined that Arterburn could not understand the nature and quality of his actions on June 19, 2011. He also couldn’t distinguish between right and wrong and that he had a mental condition that prevented him from acting in a premeditative fashion.
The trial resumes at 1 p.m.
Herald Editor Duane Nollen can be reached by email at oskynews@oskyherald.com
Local News
October 2, 2012
Mental health professionals testify in Arterburn trial
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