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Judge throws out demonic possession as trial defenseBy SCOTT KRAFTDANBURY. Conn. (AP) - A lawyer’s plan to use “demonic possession as a defense for murder has been shot down by a judge as unscientific and irrelevant.“I’m not going to allow a demonic possession defense, period. Superior Court Judge Robert Callahan said Wednesday shortly after jury selection began in the trial of a 19-year-old man.The judge’s decision shocked Martin Minnella. the defense luwyer who made headlines by claiming he would call Roman Catholic priests to the stand to prove his client. Arne Cheyenne Johnson of Brookfield, was possessed.Johnson is accused in the Feb. 16 stabbing death of Alan Bono. 40. manager of a dog kennel in Brookfield.It’s not a final ruling because we have not presented any evidence.” Minnella said outside the courtroom. If necessary, he said, he would pursue the defense on appeal.Again and again we will offer the demonic possession as evidence. Everything will be presented.” he added.JURY SELECTION, halted abruptly with the judge's comments Wednesday afternoon, was to resume today.Johnson has been held in lieu of $125,000 since his arrest on the day of the stabbing. He sat impassively Wednesday while his lawyer and the judge argued about the case.Five months before the stabbing. Johnson Joined in efforts to rid his girlfriend’s 11-year-old brother of demons, according to two self-styled experts in demonology. Ed and Lorraine Warren of Monroe.Minnella said Johnson became possessed when he challenged the demon to leave the child and take him on.Bono was stabbed during an argument with Johnson over Johnson’s girlfriend. Deborah Glatzel. Johnson and Miss Glatzel. 26. lived in apartment next to Bono’s kennel, where Miss Glatzel worked.In court Wednesday. Minnella asked the first potential juror. Gerard Ryan. 42. of New Fairfield, if he believed in the existence of a supreme being.”Yes. I do, Ryan respondedDo you you believe in the existence of a d.*monic force? he asked.Walter Flanagan, the state’s attorney, objected to the question as irrelevant. Minnella disagreed and gave the judge a memo he said supported his contention. Callahan read the memo, askedthe juror to leave the room and questioned Minnella about his planned defenseMINNELLA SAID he intended to present evidence showing that there is such a thing as demonic possession and that Johnson’s body was manipulated by evil forces during the attack on Bono.Are you telling me you are going to attempt to prove demonic possession as an objective fact? Callahan asked.That's correct, your honor.” Minnella said.Minnella claimed there were several cases in England where demonic possession had been allowed as a defense. But when asked to name the case numbers. Minnella said We don’t have them your honor. The transcripts are in the mail.Finally the judge said: It’s not going to be allowed. Evidence of demonic possession is not relevant.Minnella argued that any evidence that indicates the defendant did not intend to commit the crime is very relevant.But Callahan replied: The court will take judicial notice that the profession, business, hobby or whatever of locating demons has not risen to that level of viability where it would be of assistance to the jury in deciding the case.
Newspaper Details
Dover Times Reporter
Dover, Ohio, US
Thu, Oct 29, 1981
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Erik S.
USA 01 Mar 2017
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