Psychiatrists Split on Insanity in Bionca Ellis Trial as Defense Rests

Overview

• Defense expert Dr. Sara West testified that Ellis has schizophrenia, reported auditory hallucinations telling her someone needed to die, and did not understand the wrongfulness of her actions at the time of the stabbing.
• Prosecution rebuttal expert Dr. Stephen Noffsinger questioned whether Ellis experienced hallucinations and said her actions could reflect rage rather than mental illness, with his testimony set to continue with cross-examination on Tuesday.
• Defense rested its case Friday after presenting its mental-health evidence, and the state immediately called its rebuttal witness before the court recessed for the weekend.
• Earlier in the week, surveillance footage and eyewitnesses described Ellis following Margot and 3-year-old Julian Wood to the parking lot, stabbing them, then walking away calmly, with one witness recalling a shrug and another noting a smile.
• Ellis faces 10 counts including murder and attempted murder; she was initially found incompetent to stand trial before restoration to competency, and a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity verdict could lead to psychiatric commitment.