BRIGHTON, Colo.—A man charged with killing an Aurora police officer in 2006 was in “full-blown psychosis” and believed he was a prophet when the shooting occurred, his attorney said.
Opening statements were delivered Thursday in the trial of 29-year-old Brian Washington of Denver, who is accused of killing Detective Mike Thomas in September 2006. Washington has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
His attorney, Sharlene Reynolds, told jurors that Washington lived in a “scary, paranoid, psychotic world” in the months leading up to Thomas’ death. He believed the government was stealing his DNA and that he could control the weather with his moods, she said.
Reynolds also said Washington didn’t know Thomas was a police officer, and believed God told him to shoot Thomas.
“He believes this stuff because he is mentally ill,” she said.
But prosecutors maintain Washington did know Thomas, 52, was an officer. They said he intended to shoot Thomas because Washington believed he was being followed, though Thomas wasn’t following him.
Adams County Deputy District Attorney David Young told jurors that a doctor appointed by the court determined Washington had a personality disorder but was sane.
Washington is accused of killing Thomas after pulling up next to his vehicle at a red light. Prosecutors say Washington pulled a gun from a backpack, leaned back in his seat and fired at Thomas.
Thomas wasn’t in uniform or driving a police vehicle when he was shot, but he was on duty.
The trial is expected to last two weeks.
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Information from: The Aurora Sentinel,
