Ex-Astronaut To Pursue Insanity Defense

(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.

[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?

[trenticus-2009]

Certifiable!

[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!

[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!

[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!

[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.

[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?

[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.

[walt1944-2009]

"THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT TOO!!"

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!

[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.