Former astronaut to pursue an insanity defense
ORLANDO, Fla. - Former astronaut Lisa Nowak is pursuing a temporary-insanity defense on charges that she assaulted and tried to kidnap a romantic rival, according to a court document released yesterday.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Former astronaut Lisa Nowak is pursuing a temporary-insanity defense on charges that she assaulted and tried to kidnap a romantic rival, according to a court document released yesterday.
Nowak suffered from major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia, and "brief psychotic disorder with marked stressors," her attorney, Donald Lykkebak, wrote in his notice of intent to rely on the insanity defense.
He also said Nowak, 44, recently lost 15 percent of her body weight and struggled with "marital separation."
"Even the most naive observer should recognize that Lisa Nowak's behavior on Feb. 5 was uncharacteristic and unpredicted for such an accomplished person with no criminal record or history of violence," Lykkebak said in a separate public statement.
Two Texas psychiatrists will testify to Nowak's condition at the time of the alleged attack, Lykkebak wrote in the court filing.
Nowak was arrested after confronting Colleen Shipman, the girlfriend of a former space shuttle pilot Nowak had been seeing. Nowak is accused of stalking Shipman at the Orlando airport, then attacking her as Shipman arrived at her car.
Police say Nowak had driven the nearly 1,000 miles from Houston to Orlando to confront Shipman. She told police she just wanted to talk to Shipman to find out "where she stands" in the love triangle.
Nowak was dismissed from the astronaut corps a month after her arrest. Her trial is set for September.
At a court hearing Friday on defense motions, Nowak apologized to Shipman.
























