M. F. Abernathy
He Blamed CIA For Kennedy Assassination...
Tue Mar 29, 2005 16:17
131.128.160.143
He also wrote a book blaming the CIA for the assassination of President John Kennedy...
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News & Record (Greensboro, NC)
March 16, 2004 Tuesday ALL EDITIONS
SECTION: TRIAD; Pg. B1
LENGTH: 430 words
HEADLINE: WITNESSES SAY DURHAM SEEMED SANE; EARLIER, PSYCHIATRISTS TESTIFY THAT JOEL DURHAM HAS A HISTORY OF PARANOID DELUSIONS INVOLVING THE CIA.
BYLINE: By Scott Michels Staff Writer
DATELINE: GREENSBORO
A man who said the CIA ordered him to kill his close friend appeared sane and knew the difference between right and wrong before the killing, witnesses said Monday.
Joel Mark Durham, 43, shot and killed Ralph Daniel "Danny" Gaiser on July 3, 2002, Gaiser's 39th birthday, an eyewitness testified last week.
Durham, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, has been charged with first-degree murder. If convicted, he faces life in prison without parole.
On the last day of testimony, several of Gaiser's friends testified Monday that Durham copied Gaiser, became angry if he was not included in social functions, and at times appeared jealous of Gaiser's fiance. District Attorney Stuart Albright has suggested jealousy as a possible motive for the shooting.
Durham often parked his car outside Gaiser's house when Gaiser was not home and rode his bike around the neighborhood, Gaiser's brother, Bryan Gaiser, testified. Durham also bought the same car and mountain bike as Gaiser soon after Gaiser bought them.
Bryan Gaiser said he never heard Durham mention the CIA in the 25 years the men have known each other. Asked if Durham could distinguish between right and wrong the last time the two saw each other, a few months before the shooting, Gaiser said, "absolutely."
To be found not guilty, Durham's lawyers must establish that he had a mental illness and, as a result, did not understand the quality and nature of his actions or did not know his actions were wrong when he killed Gaiser.
Several psychiatrists testified last week that Durham has a history of paranoid delusions involving the CIA, including the belief that the agency implanted electrodes in his brain and "prompted" thoughts telling him he had to kill Gaiser or be tortured and killed himself.
The doctors said Durham did not know right from wrong at the time of Gaiser's death.
On Monday, Durham's brother, John Durham, said Joel once drove to CIA headquarters because he thought he was supposed to join the agency. He also wrote a book blaming the CIA for the assassination of President John Kennedy, but later burned all the copies because he believed the CIA would kill him if he didn't, John Durham said.
On one occasion, the brothers were in the woods in Battleground Park with their father. Joel Durham asked his father, "Is this where you're going to do it? Is this where you're going to kill me?" John Durham testified.
Lawyers will present their closing arguments today in Guilford County Superior Court.
Contact Scott Michels at 373-7077 or smichels@news-record.com
NOTES: Greensboro, Randolph, Rockingham Editions: Pg. B1; High Point: B5
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News & Record (Greensboro, NC)
March 16, 2004 Tuesday ALL EDITIONS
SECTION: TRIAD; Pg. B1
LENGTH: 430 words
HEADLINE: WITNESSES SAY DURHAM SEEMED SANE; EARLIER, PSYCHIATRISTS TESTIFY THAT JOEL DURHAM HAS A HISTORY OF PARANOID DELUSIONS INVOLVING THE CIA.
BYLINE: By Scott Michels Staff Writer
DATELINE: GREENSBORO
A man who said the CIA ordered him to kill his close friend appeared sane and knew the difference between right and wrong before the killing, witnesses said Monday.
Joel Mark Durham, 43, shot and killed Ralph Daniel "Danny" Gaiser on July 3, 2002, Gaiser's 39th birthday, an eyewitness testified last week.
Durham, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, has been charged with first-degree murder. If convicted, he faces life in prison without parole.
On the last day of testimony, several of Gaiser's friends testified Monday that Durham copied Gaiser, became angry if he was not included in social functions, and at times appeared jealous of Gaiser's fiance. District Attorney Stuart Albright has suggested jealousy as a possible motive for the shooting.
Durham often parked his car outside Gaiser's house when Gaiser was not home and rode his bike around the neighborhood, Gaiser's brother, Bryan Gaiser, testified. Durham also bought the same car and mountain bike as Gaiser soon after Gaiser bought them.
Bryan Gaiser said he never heard Durham mention the CIA in the 25 years the men have known each other. Asked if Durham could distinguish between right and wrong the last time the two saw each other, a few months before the shooting, Gaiser said, "absolutely."
To be found not guilty, Durham's lawyers must establish that he had a mental illness and, as a result, did not understand the quality and nature of his actions or did not know his actions were wrong when he killed Gaiser.
Several psychiatrists testified last week that Durham has a history of paranoid delusions involving the CIA, including the belief that the agency implanted electrodes in his brain and "prompted" thoughts telling him he had to kill Gaiser or be tortured and killed himself.
The doctors said Durham did not know right from wrong at the time of Gaiser's death.
On Monday, Durham's brother, John Durham, said Joel once drove to CIA headquarters because he thought he was supposed to join the agency. He also wrote a book blaming the CIA for the assassination of President John Kennedy, but later burned all the copies because he believed the CIA would kill him if he didn't, John Durham said.
On one occasion, the brothers were in the woods in Battleground Park with their father. Joel Durham asked his father, "Is this where you're going to do it? Is this where you're going to kill me?" John Durham testified.
Lawyers will present their closing arguments today in Guilford County Superior Court.
Contact Scott Michels at 373-7077 or smichels@news-record.com
NOTES: Greensboro, Randolph, Rockingham Editions: Pg. B1; High Point: B5
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