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Nassau Judge Okays Zoloft Defense In Assault Trial
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 23, 2009
Modified Aug 23, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 23, 2009
Modified Aug 23, 2009
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Newsday reports that Nassau District Judge Rhonda Fischer reiterated that "she will permit a defense expert witness, a psychiatrist, to testify at trial that a withdrawal from Zoloft, a widely prescribed antidepressant, could cause a person to become hostile and aggressive." On trial is Brandon Hampson, whose defense attorney says his client's Zoloft withdrawal was a "contributing factor—if not directly responsible" for his actions. Hampson allegedly tackled and then kicked his then-girlfriend in the head, face and back two years ago; defense attorney Eric Bernstein said, "This is not a joke or gimmick-type defense. This is very serious, very legitimate and is going to get a lot of traction. You're going to be seeing more of this, because it's real." (Hampson was convicted of assaulting another former girlfriend in 1995 and prosecutors say there's no evidence of him taking Zoloft back then.) The prosecution, which objected to allowing the Zoloft defense and the defense witness supporting it, has a Massachusetts psychiatrist ready to testify that the drug doesn't cause violence—and Zoloft maker Pfizer is paying the doctor $7,500 a day to testify.
Tagged
nassau county
pfizer
violence
zoloft
zoloft defense
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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