Attorney: Marine accused in California attacks suffers from post-traumatic stress from combat
By APThursday, July 30, 2009
Marine pleads not guilty in California attacks
FRESNO, Calif. — An attorney for a U.S. Marine accused of attacking his estranged wife and two of her relatives says his client suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder from combat.
Twenty-six-year-old Sgt. Dejon Baskin, who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, is being held on $3.75 million bail.
He pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Fresno County Superior Court to three counts of attempted murder in the alleged July 16 attack on his 24-year-old estranged wife, Rachel Laura Baskin, her mother and her 22-year-old brother in Reedley.
Prosecutors say Baskin shot and stabbed the three. Details on their injuries were not available.
Baskin’s attorney, Eric Schweitzer, says Baskin was trying to commit suicide and didn’t intend to hurt anyone. He described his client as a troubled man who suffers from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder from combat.
Information from: The Fresno Bee, www.fresnobee.com
