Summing up looms in Kissel retrial after hearing of evidence wraps up
Evidence in the retrial of Nancy Kissel, who is accused of murdering her investment banker husband, was wrapped up yesterday after 40 days of hearing.
Prosecutor David Perry QC, will give his closing speech as early as tomorrow, to be followed by defence counsel Edward Fitzgerald QC, at the Court of First Instance.
Mr Justice Andrew Macrae indicated that he would sum up evidence, give directions on a legal matter on Monday and ask the jury to deliberate on a verdict next Tuesday.
Kissel, now 46, is accused of murdering her husband, Robert Kissel, 40, a Merill Lynch banker, on or about November 2, 2003. She has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, which the prosecution does not accept.
Robert Kissel allegedly drank a drug-laced milkshake administered by his wife. Earlier yesterday, the trial continued with evidence by psychiatric expert Dr Wong chun-kit, a psychiatrist, who diagnosed that Nancy Kissel had been suffering from a major depressive disorder when she committed the killing.
Wong said the disorder impaired Kissel's rational thinking, judgment and action in 2003.
In cross-examination, Perry questioned whether Wong's diagnosis was reliable and accurate. Perry said what Kissel told Wong was different from evidence that was heard in court.
Perry said Kissel invented her psychiatric history. But Wong said: 'Even if what she told me was not true, that does not negate the diagnosis of major depressive disorder.'
Perry asked: 'Even though the defendant told a complete pack of lies, a complete untrue account, it doesn't negate the diagnosis? Is that what you are saying?'
Wong said 'yes', adding: 'Nancy had been severely affected by the disorder. How she saw the world, perceived and interpreted things was filtered through the disorder ... coloured through that disorder. Perception is reality,' Wong said, adding it was a golden rule in psychiatry.
