http://www.wkbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=3439521&nav=KoJDaj6V
According to the criminal complaint, Matthew Balzrina has given police investigators a fairly detailed description of the murder he says he committed.
On the morning of May 24th, Balzrina says he was smoking marijuana with the victim in this case, 23-year-old Sarah Dobbs, when she told him she planned to break up with his friend. Balzrina says he went to the bathroom for a moment, and a demon named "Sozudo" appeared to him in the mirror telling him that Dobbs was "no good". Shortly after that, Balzrina says he beat and stabbed the young woman to death. He also confessed to pouring gasoline in her house, but told police he didn't set a fire.
That kind of lapse in his story, coupled with his hallucination, could be the grounds for an insanity defense. La Crosse County District Attorney Scott Horne says, "That is something, in light of his statements, we gave some thought to last week and over the weekend. If the issue is raised, we will be prepared to deal with it."
Balzrina has also confessed to stealing a vehicle from his former workplace and heading to Winona after the crimes were committed. Because he is a flight risk, the judge handling the case has ordered a hefty $500,000 bond. We've got a lot of court hearings to go, but in the end, if Matthew Balzrina is convicted, he will be sentenced to life in prison.
According to the criminal complaint, Matthew Balzrina has given police investigators a fairly detailed description of the murder he says he committed.
On the morning of May 24th, Balzrina says he was smoking marijuana with the victim in this case, 23-year-old Sarah Dobbs, when she told him she planned to break up with his friend. Balzrina says he went to the bathroom for a moment, and a demon named "Sozudo" appeared to him in the mirror telling him that Dobbs was "no good". Shortly after that, Balzrina says he beat and stabbed the young woman to death. He also confessed to pouring gasoline in her house, but told police he didn't set a fire.
That kind of lapse in his story, coupled with his hallucination, could be the grounds for an insanity defense. La Crosse County District Attorney Scott Horne says, "That is something, in light of his statements, we gave some thought to last week and over the weekend. If the issue is raised, we will be prepared to deal with it."
Balzrina has also confessed to stealing a vehicle from his former workplace and heading to Winona after the crimes were committed. Because he is a flight risk, the judge handling the case has ordered a hefty $500,000 bond. We've got a lot of court hearings to go, but in the end, if Matthew Balzrina is convicted, he will be sentenced to life in prison.
