Suspect to plead insanity in killing

The attorney for the man accused of killing a 16-year-old Ingleside girl said Wednesday he wants to present an insanity defense at the suspect's upcoming murder trial.

The judge in the Adam Christenson case approved the request, but refused to give Assistant Public Defender Keith Grant any more time to prepare his case.

Circuit Judge James Booras said he wants the inquiry into the July 14, 2004, slaying of Elizabeth Willding to begin as scheduled on Feb. 4, no matter what type of a defense Grant is planning.

Christensen, 25, is accused of stabbing the girl more than 40 times when she interrupted his second burglary of her home in as many days.

Wednesday's statement from Grant that an insanity defense is planned in the case is the first such assertion he has made, although he indicated last year he was considering such a move.

If the insanity defense is raised, Grant will concede that Christenson killed the girl but will try to win his acquittal through testimony that Christenson was too mentally ill at the time to understand what he was doing was wrong.

That testimony is expected to be countered by prosecutors trying to show Christenson attempted to avoid responsibility for the crime, an indication that he fully comprehended what he had done.

Christenson has a documented history of psychological problems, including treatment prior to the crime and a finding that he was mentally unfit to stand trial in 2005.

After a year in a state hospital, doctors said Christenson had been restored to fitness and he was returned to Lake County.

Grant told Booras that he has hired a psychological expert to examine Christenson and review his history, but the expert still had work to do to prepare for the trial.

He suggested pushing the trial back to March 3 to allow time for a report to be completed, but Booras refused to budge.

Booras reminded Grant that the trial had been specially scheduled for Feb. 4 and that Grant had told him at the last court session that he would be prepared.

"I will allow no further delay," Booras said. "This case has to come to trial."

If found not guilty by reason of insanity, Christenson would be ordered confined in a state hospital until doctors determined that he no longer posed a threat to the public.

If found guilty of first-degree murder, Christenson would face a maximum of 60 years in prison.