Despite some bizarre behavior during his arraignment earlier this week, David Tarloff has been found fit to stand trial for the cleaver-hacking murder of psychologist Kathryn Faughey. The initial target of Tarloff's wrath was Dr. Kent Shinbach, whose office was next door to Faughey's. Shinbach apparently had Tarloff institutionalized some years ago and the schizophrenic man had undergone electro-shock treatments.
Tarloff was examined by two psychiatrists who found him "not incapacitated," meaning he can participate meaningfully in his own defense. Previously, during his arraignment, he refused to believe his court appointed attorney was a real lawyer and also asked if he could go get some snacks from a vending machine during the proceedings.
A NY Post opinion piece yesterday said that neighbors described Tarloff as "the crazy guy" who had a long history of violent behavior when he stopped taking his medications. His own mother, who is in a nursing home, had an order of protection against him, but Tarloff's post-murder getaway plans included having his mom at his side (he packed her a suitcase and had stocked up on adult diapers for her.)
Bryan Konoski, who is Tarloff's new defense attorney, stated that he's going to ask the judge in the case for a third psychiatrist to examine his client, but added, "I'm not saying I'm going with a psychiatric defense. I'm not going with the defense that he had nothing to do with this." (The Manhattan DA's office reportedly will show how the crime was premeditated.) At a hearing Thursday, Tarloff was reportedly back on medication and able to answer a series of yes and no questions reasonably well.
