Psych exam of Gurnee woman killed by ex-husband to be admitted at trial

A five-year-old psychological exam taken during a heated divorce could help defense attorneys show Kenosha, Wisconsin, resident David Brocksom was defending himself when he killed his ex-wife during a pre-dawn fight in her Gurnee house in 2015.

Judge Mark Levitt will allow attorneys Gabe Conroe and John Bailey of the Lake County public defender's office to introduce at trial the psych exam taken by Beata Brocksom after she and David Brocksom filed for divorce in 2013.

Bailey said in court Wednesday the results of the exam show Beata Brocksom, 48, repeatedly had difficulty controlling episodes of violent and aggressive anger toward her ex-husband. After court, Bailey and Conroe said the evidence supports their theory David Brocksom, 46, was acting in self-defense when he killed his ex-wife about 4 a.m. Sept. 27, 2015.

The Brocksom trial is tentatively slated to begin Nov. 5. Conroe said the trial could be delayed.

David Brocksom faces counts of first-degree murder, home invasion and robbery in the death of his ex-wife at her house. He remains held in Lake County jail on $3 million bail.

Authorities say David Brocksom was with his two children in the Wisconsin Dells when he became irate after the couple's 9-year-old daughter said Beata Brocksom assaulted her. He left the children in Wisconsin in the middle of the night and drove to Gurnee to confront his ex-wife.

An argument escalated into a fistfight, authorities said. David Brocksom told police he was struck in the face with an object that knocked him over. While he was on his back, his ex-wife stood over him with a gun, authorities said.

The two wrestled for control of the weapon, authorities said. Two shots were fired, and one bullet hit Beata Brocksom.

The scuffle continued outside for a short time before Beata Brocksom fell unconscious and died near some back bushes, authorities said.

After the fight, David Brocksom drove to his mother's house in Kenosha, waited for a friend to pick up his children in Wisconsin, then turned himself in to police that evening.