PORTLAND — A state prosecutor this morning argued that not only was Chad Gurney legally sane when he brutally killed 18-year-old Zoe Sarnacki at his Cumberland Avenue apartment two years ago, but he was planning an insanity defense within hours of committing the crime.
“This will not even be a close case for you, your honor,” Assistant Attorney General Donald Macomber told Justice Roland Cole during opening arguments at Gurney’s murder trial at Superior Court.
Additional Photos
“Chad Gurney was rational and responsive throughout his interview” with a detective about 10 hours after the killing, Macomber said. “He had the capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions.
“He described himself as a monster. He said that he did the most horrific deeds that anyone could possibly do.”
Gurney’s lawyers don’t dispute that the 29-year-old defendant felt remorseful for taking Sarnacki’s life on May 25, 2009. But the defense team argues that Gurney was legally insane at the time.
Attorney Sarah Churchill told Cole that Gurney suffered from a psychotic disorder, marked by intense delusions. He was on a spiritual quest and believed that he was being guided by symbols, Churchill said. She said Gurney’s state of mind was caused primarily by the lingering effects of a brain injury he sustained during a near-fatal van crash in 2005.
“He was not appropriately medicated to deal with his thought, mood and pain disorders,” Churchill told Cole.
“The goals of Mr. Gurney’s behavior were entirely based on delusions.”
The trial is expected to last about 10 days. Gurney has pleaded not criminally responsible by reason of insanity. He waived his right to the jury, so Cole will preside over the trial and return a verdict.
10:24 p.m.
PORTLAND — The murder trial of Chad Gurney is under way this morning at Cumberland County Superior Court.
Assistant Attorney General David Macomber presented the opening statement for the prosecution.
Gurney’s lawyers are expected to give their opening statement after a short break.
Gurney is using an insanity defense as he goes on trial Monday in the ritualistic-style killing of Zoe Sarnacki in his apartment.
In the early evening of May 25, 2009, firefighters were called to a blaze at Gurney’s Cumberland Avenue apartment, where they found Sarnacki’s charred body lying on a bed. Her head had been severed, and several items including a crucifix had been placed on or around the body, according to court documents.
Gurney told detectives he’d strangled the 18-year-old and cut off her head with a knife.
He then bought some gasoline at a nearby gas station, poured it on the body and ignited it before driving to a motel in Old Orchard Beach, where he was arrested early the next day.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.