M. F. Abernathy
From Activist To Assassin: Mind Control?
Thu Feb 26 23:46:22 2004
192.133.12.100

The Washington Post
February 24, 1981, Tuesday, Final Edition
SECTION: First Section; Around the Nation; A6
LENGTH: 202 words
HEADLINE: Ex-Rep. Lowenstein Killer Adjusted Not Responsible For Reasons of Insanity
BYLINE: From news services and staff reports
DATELINE: NEW YORK

A former antiwar activist who shot former representative Allard Lowenstein to death nearly a year ago was judged not responsible for the slaying by reason of insanity yesterday.

An acting state Supreme Court justice ruled that Dennis Sweeney, 37, a former student of Lowenstein, was not responsible for his actions when he strolled into the lawyer's office in Rockefeller Center last March 15 and fatally shot him.

Three psychiatrists at the Rikers Island prison, along with three others retained by the defense and the district attorney's office, agreed that Sweeney was a "paranoid schizophrenic with hallucinations and delusions," the Manhattan district attorney's office said.

The doctors all found that Sweeney was not responsible for his actions and was unable to stand trial for the firing seven shots at Lowenstein, who died five hours later.

Sweeney, a former civil rights worker and antiwar activist, told psychiatrists that Lowenstein placed a radio transmitter in his brain to control his thoughts and actions.

Acting Supreme Court Justice Brenda Soloff said she would sign an order March 23 committing the Sweeney to the custody of the state Department of Mental Hygiene.