JAG CENTRAL

From the AP (via Lexington Herald-Leader): News that Akbar's insanity defense has backfired. Turns out that the defense psychiatrist doesn't think he's crazy after all...

A defense psychiatrist testified Tuesday that Sgt. Hasan Akbar was sane and knew the consequences of his actions when he threw grenades into tents occupied by fellow soldiers during a 2003 attack in Kuwait.

Dr. George Woods Jr. initially testified under direct questioning that Akbar may have suffered from schizophrenia and depression at the time of the attack that killed two soldiers and wounded 14.

But under cross-examination by lead Army prosecutor Lt. Col. Michael Mulligan, Woods acknowledged he had ruled out a diagnosis of insanity.

Woods reluctantly said "yes" when asked if Akbar "understood the natural consequences of the act" when he threw grenades into three tents at Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait in March 2003. Woods attempted to explain, but Mulligan pressed simply for the yes or no answer.

Woods also said Akbar understood that a hand grenade was a lethal weapon and exhibited an ability to make plans, although he noted that Akbar's plans were frequently unsuccessful.

The backfired testimony could hurt the defense's effort to spare Akbar a death sentence. Defense lawyers are not disputing that Akbar carried out the attack but are seeking to show he was mentally incapable of premeditating it.