Ex-Astronaut To Pursue Insanity Defense

Lisa Nowak's Attorney Cites ''Brief Psychotic Disorder" During Her Alleged Assault On Romantic Rival

(CBS/AP)  Former astronaut Lisa Nowak is pursuing a temporary insanity defense on charges that she assaulted and tried to kidnap a romantic rival, according to a court document released Tuesday.

Nowak suffered from major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia and "brief psychotic disorder with marked stressors," defense attorney Donald Lykkebak wrote. He said the already-petite woman had also recently lost 15 percent of her body weight and struggled with "marital separation."

In the court document, Lykkebak also indicates that Nowak may suffer from Asperger's Disorder.

"This notice does not challenge competence to stand trial, but only raises insanity at the time of the offense," he wrote.

Nowak, 44, was charged with attempted kidnapping, battery and burglary with assault after allegedly driving nearly 1,000 miles from Houston to Orlando to confront Colleen Shipman, the girlfriend of a former space shuttle pilot Nowak had been involved with.

Nowak, who was dismissed from the astronaut corps a month after her arrest, has pleaded not guilty. Her trial is set for September.

Lykkebak wrote that two Texas psychiatrists would testify that Nowak was legally insane at the time of the alleged attack.

Circuit Court Judge Marc L. Lubet unsealed the notice of intent to rely on the insanity defense on Tuesday. Florida law requires such a notice before trial to let prosecutors prepare.

Danielle Tavernier, a spokeswoman for the state attorney's office, said prosecutors would address the issue in court and declined further comment.

[blackbug99]

Hmmm, a premeditated trek across the country, with a plan, would seem to negate any insanity plea. She''d be better off if she said Bush made her do it.

[jetlizhan]

does this chick need a serious haircut or what?? this is the worse hairstyle i''ve seen in a long time. very ''old-timey'', not smart and youthful at all. lisa, please, put down the diapers and pick up the scissors.

[inmo-2009]

First of all it is Aspergers Syndrome not disorder and while she is a bit crazy she needs more than that for an insaity defense.
Asp. is on the autism spectrum and is in fact a high functing form of autism which would affect her more socially than anything.
Poor reporting - try google to get some background info before dropping names of conditions around

[jetlizhan]

ah, to lose 15% of my body weight.

[killtheliars]

how *** is a chick who wears diapers?

[dzfromsc]

Blackbug99: I agree good Bush joke!

But, if she wants to plead insanity, why not throw her in an asylum and be done with the entire subject?

InMo: If they can''t take the time to edit out repeated words, what makes you think they take the time to do research?

[imnho]

I have been involed in the space program for many years and I am not a republican.

Lisa Nowak has nothing to lose by pleading insainty. The facts may not be in dispute at the time of her trial.

I suspect that there will be a plea bargin on the eve of the trial and she will serve little time. The big question is what happens to her Naval pension.

[maedean]

The insanity defense is the biggest bunch of *** in the justice system. A criminal is a criminal and if everyone in the USA would figure this out our country would be a lot better place. A set time for a set crime .

[drivelphobe]

IMHNO....

Lisa Nowak will retain her pension, go on total disability. Her pension will continue to add up based on her current salary. Her disability benefits should aproximate 60% of her current salary. If the plan is decent, there will be some sort of indexing for inflation, both of the disability benefits and the pension accumulation.

If she''s unlucky, it might be possible that her whole program could be forfeited. Give her a break. It was probably the first time in her life she was possessed by lust.

[blackbug99]

DZ, can''t do that...Then she only has to stay incarcerated until she fools some doc into saying she''s ok. She''s a threat to society and an embarassment to the fine people who volunteer to serve this country.

IMNHO, she will have no pension. She''s violated the UCMJ and will lose rank and be discharged with dishonor. Good riddance.

[blackbug99]

seven-pesos,

Actually, NASA fights Bush whenever they can. They''re pretty middle of the road, science nerds. They cringe when buttfu...I mean President Bush claims space for America G . Personally, I think more than a few would select him to be the first Mars astronaut...Let him f-up another planet for a while. We''re all booked up with our own f-ups.

[michellem99-2009]

I have never heard of Asperger''s what ever it is..I am 52...What about her children...I don''t unerstand her behaviour as she had a great job with NASA and the navy..An officer who should have known better..I pity the children and the man who she hurt..Brought the shame on herself..

[nolalou]

Here''s a site that describes asperger syndrome. From the description, it doesn''t seem to explain her behavior, but then again, I''m not a doctor.

For example it says "Asperger syndrome is characterized by poor social interactions, obsessions, odd speech patterns, and other peculiar mannerisms. Other characteristics of AS include motor delays, clumsiness, limited interests, and peculiar preoccupations.

I would think she couldn''t function as an astronaut with moter delays or clumsiness!

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/asperger.html

[jdubs63]

What a real cop out

[michellem99-2009]

If she suffers from that ,it stands to reason, that the military messed up or it is just something the lawyer dug up to save her asre. I am a layperson.. It should shown up years ago if she had a bunch of problems..I wonder how she hid it..to go in the navy and space programme..Makes no sense..

[aaabee-2009]

What woman hasn''t gone bug-*** when some other chic tries to move in on her man, but to the lengths this woman went to?

For once, I agree with the plea. There is something wrong with her mentally, that led to some seriously bad decision-making, like letting it get out about wearing Astro-Luvs.

[likeitis5050]

Aspergers falls on the autism spectrum. People with Aspergers are those geeks that end up writing a software program that revolutionizes an entire industry or break the DNA code that leads to a cure for AIDS. They are brilliant but have difficulty with simple social graces. Socially retarded but with IQs that stagger.

They have to be ''taught'' how to be social. They have to be taught how to have simple, polite conversations with people and respect personal space and boundaries. They think and communicate in concrete terms. They call it as they see it. (at times I wonder if the ''rest of us'' aren''t the ones with the problem. We''ve become too sensitive to the quirks and idiocracies in others. Everyone has to come from the same cookie cutter....or so it seems.) These people may or may not be aware that they are being shunned...and most of the time couldn''t care less. In many cases, simply telling them they have been rude or abrupt is shocking to them. They don''t intend to injure or hurt feelings, they just see things as they see them. Idioms and colorful uses of language will stump them.

She needs medical intervention, but she also needs to deal with the conseqences of her behavior. If she was suffering from all those disorders, someone dropped the ball on her treatment long before she flipped all the way out.

[kevzgrl]

There''s no other explanation for it, she HAS to be crazy to have an affair with a NOTHINGBURGER like Mr. Ofeline, and then try to stop someone else from having him. He must really have something special to have two attractive, smart and hard-working young ladies falling all over him. Personally, I wouldn''t have touched him with someone else''s cr***h

[likeitis5050]

Personally, I wouldn''''t have touched him with someone else''''s cr***h


LOL!!!

[nothappyatall]

Well gee, no surprise she is INSANE, normal people don''t wear diapers so they can drive hundreds of miles to attack, kidnap and murder someone.

"Nowak suffered from major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia and "brief psychotic disorder with marked stressors,"

Yeah yeah yeah, we heard that line of BS too many times already- depression, insomnia etc do not make people drive cross-country with a kidnap plan, diapers, weapons etc. This is one nut case who needs to be locked up.

[walt1944-2009]

"THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT TOO!!"

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!

[annia1233]

yah, b@s. she was following the mighty dicky weekie and now even Asperger''s Disorder?
it will be very difficult to proove that when she was intelligent enough to be in the space program. She would come better saying that the radiation from the sun and the space time continiuum affected her as she was flying obliquous with the ozone layer as entering the atmosphere during the burning stage.... duahhhhhh. Or she can get MIss Caroline to defend her.

[annia1233]

Nowak suffered from major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, insomnia and "brief psychotic disorder with marked stressors,"

who the heck were we sending to space? are nasa''s doctors doing their physicals?

[usaisdway189]

whatever happened to having "the right stuff"???

next - britney spears, lindsay lohan, paris hilton, and bragelina in space. Or a g*ay nazi like Keith Olbermann??? lol.

[ringading3]

Lisa Nowak has accomplished more in her life than any of the slimeballs in the media that are raking her name in the mud. She will get through this episode in her life and be a stronger person because she is made of the Right Stuff. All the losers in the media and on this board can go stuff it!

[ringading3]

George W Bush was elected Governor of Texas, and elected twice as the President of the United States. I had the honor of voting for him twice, and would vote for him again.

And what have the losers posting on this board have accomplished? Bunche of whinners!

[juwboy]

What are you saying, RingADing3?

Are they whiners or winners?

Maybe they''re wieners.

If they''re Australian, they could be whingers.

[swwils]

Well we gotta figure she is probably nuts.She drove 900 miles wearing diapers urinating and pooping in her pants,to me thats nuts.She was totally fatal attraction on that dude,thats her best defense!

[trenticus-2009]

Certifiable!

[azmka]

RingADing3:

You had the honor of voting for Bush twice.

I on the other hand made a regretful dishonorable choice and voted for that freedom hating, money loving, domestic spy twice myself.

At least I''ve learned, you have not. As well I know how to spell, you do not. bunche whinners? Waht the **** is that?