SCRANTON — Testimony in a murder trial described as a “battle of the experts” by defense attorney Curt Parkins during his opening argument, concluded Friday.
During the weeklong trial, prosecution witnesses claimed Shelton Miles purposefully shot and killed Jose Miguel Tatis-Camilo and shot cashier Gopi Soni in the leg during a robbery the evening of March 7, 2024, at the Sunoco convenience mart on North Main Avenue
But defense attorneys presented witnesses who testified Miles was suffering from dementia on the night of the crime and wasn’t capable of understanding what he was doing.
Dr. Stephen Mechanick, testifying for the prosecution, said Miles “did not meet the criteria for legal insanity at the time of the crime for which he was charged.”
Mechanick, a psychiatrist who interviewed Miles for over an hour at the Lackawanna County Prison, said the 65-year-old did not seem confused or disoriented.
Mechanick told jurors he had reviewed medical records from the Department of Veterans Affairs going back to 2015, which indicated Miles suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder that stemmed from ingesting LSD during his military service.
But Mechanick said he was unable to identify any specific symptoms which pointed to that diagnosis and instead believed Miles has antisocial personality disorder, dating back to a childhood during which he spend several periods in a mental health hospital due to behavioral problems.
People afflicted with that disorder have a disregard for the rights and feelings of others and lack remorse for wrongs they have committed, he said, adding that they can still form intent to commit a crime.
He pointed out that Miles planned the crime, shot two people, gathered cash from the register and then fled so he wouldn’t get caught.
Miles is charged with first-, second- and third-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, robbery and possession of a prohibited firearm. Dressed in a blue shirt, dress pants and wearing eyeglasses, he sat quietly through Tuesday’s proceedings.
Defense disagrees
Defense attorney Matthew Comerford opened cross-examination of Mechanick by asking if he disagreed with medical experts who believed Miles had severe mental illness, which included PTSD and bipolar disorder.
He pointed out Miles was receiving service-related disability payments related to mental illness from the VA.
Comerford asked Mechanick if he was aware that Miles was raised by his grandmother because his mother was incapable of caring for him. At one point, Miles’ mother stabbed him in the leg during an episode related to mental health.
Mechanick said he was aware Miles had been raised by his grandmother, who died while he was still a juvenile.
Miles was admitted to mental health facilities several times beginning at about age 11. Mechanick didn’t know if those admissions were related to the death of his grandmother.
Comerford pointed to a March 1, 2024, entry in his VA medical record during which he told medical personnel that he was frustrated by increased forgetfulness and instances of not remembering specific periods of time.
Mechanick said it was possible Miles had mild dementia or age-related forgetfulness, but that he was still capable of making decisions.
“People with dementia can engage in purposeful acts,” he said.
Miles will not be testifying in his own defense.
Before the jury was seated, Judge Terrence Nealon had Miles stand before asking him if he was aware of his right to testify.
Miles clearly stated, “Yes, sir.”
When asked if he had conferred with his attorneys and made a decision as to whether he would testify, Miles said he decided not to testify.
Closing statements will begin Monday.