Defense rests in Jonathan Broyhill murder trial
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Judge Paul C. Ridgeway ruled Tuesday that the defense cannot call a prison psychiatrist to testify in the Jonathan Broyhill trial.
Broyhill is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Democratic Party strategist Jamie Hahn and attempted murder for attacking her husband Nation when he intervened in April 2013.
The defense wanted to call the psychiatrist as a "fact witness" to testify about the medications Broyhill takes and the reason, but the prosecution objected - saying it was a ploy to call an expert witness to talk about Broyhill's mental state.
Under the North Carolina rules of evidence, both sides must announce if they plan to call expert witnesses before a trial starts.
Ridgeway sided with the prosecution. After the ruling, Assistant Public Defender Joseph Arbour again asked for a mistrial. Arbour maintains Ridgeway has shown prejudice against Broyhill throughout the trial and asked him to recuse himself. Ridgeway has declined.
Broyhill's defense attorneys don't deny he attacked the Hahns, but say Broyhill should be convicted of second-degree murder because they claim the attack was not premeditated.
Throughout the trial, they have painted him as a "deeply troubled" man who lied to his friends about having illnesses and other personal problems. They say Broyhill took a large kitchen knife to the Hahn's home with the intention of committing suicide there, but "snapped" and attacked the couple as well.
The prosecution said Broyhill kept the books for Jamie Hahn's political consulting company and had embezzled more than $46,500 from the campaign of Congressman Brad Miller. Jamie was confronting Broyhill about the missing money in her north Raleigh home when she was stabbed.
After the attack, Broyhill slashed his own wrists and abdomen, but survived.
After Ridgeway's ruling Tuesday, the defense called Broyhill's stepmother Dayrl Broyhill to testify. She said that Broyhill believed his natural mother was having a romantic relationship with his ex-girlfriend.
Also called to testify Tuesday was Broyhill's former therapist Susan Simon who said that he had issues with low self-esteem - particularly with regard to his ability to fit in within the gay community. He felt like he was overweight and unattractive.
Simon said Broyhill told her he had been sexually abused by an uncle as a child.
She also said that Broyhill had a hard time coming out as gay to his family because of their deep religious beliefs.
"He grew up in an environment where being gay meant being possessed by demons," said Simon.
After Simon testified, the defense rested its case.
Judge Ridgeway told jurors closing arguments will be held Wednesday and recessed for the day. The judge said the defense will have the first closing argument and the prosecution will follow.
The jury must choose between first or second-degree murder.
