A jury at the upcoming murder trial of a Vermont man will be able to hear about statements he made to police. Nineteen-year-old Isaac Turnbaugh has pleaded innocent to a first-degree murder charge in the Waitsfield shooting of his former co-worker, Declan Lyons.
In a written ruling, a Washington District Court judge rejected arguments by Turnbaugh’s attorneys that their client lacked the mental capacity to consent to questioning by police. Doctors have testified in court that Turnbaugh suffered from psychosis, including a manic-depressive illness.
Defense attorney Kurt Hughes says the statements made to police were not significant to the case. Turnbaugh remains in a correctional facility pending his trial.