Defense: Man Accused In Brockton Killings Mentally Ill
BROCKTON (AP) — The defense attorney for a Brockton man accused of killing two people and critically injuring a third says his client was "cold as ice" and not criminally responsible during a violent spree in 2009.
Attorney Joseph Krowski Jr. said in his opening statement Thursday at Keith Luke's murder trial in Brockton Superior Court his client has a history of mental illness including several hospitalizations.
Prosecutor Frank Middleton said 26-year-old Luke was seeking revenge for rejections by women, and showed items including a hammer, gags and handcuffs he said Luke collected as tools to torture and kill.
Luke is accused of raping a 22-year-old former neighbor and fatally shooting her 20-year-old sister, then fatally shooting a 72-year-old man on the street.
Luke allegedly told police he wanted to kill "nonwhites." His victims were of Cape Verdean descent.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
