STUART — A judge Monday ruled that accused killer Austin Harrouff is not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2016 murders of a Tequesta couple at their home on Southeast Kokomo Lane in southern Martin County.
Harrouff, 25, fatally stabbed John Stevens III, 59, and Michelle Mishcon, 53, in a vicious and random attack that included injuring their neighbor Jeffrey Fisher, who tried to help the couple.
The Florida State University student, then 19, was found biting and chewing on Stevens’ face in the man’s driveway, and detectives recovered what appeared to be flesh from Harrouff’s teeth. Deputies reported Harrouff was walking to his father’s home in the neighborhood when he targeted Stevens III and Mishcon.
A medical examiner who performed the autopsies on Stevens III and Mishcon stated they died quickly because of the extent of their multiple injuries, records show.
Investigators have noted an extreme amount of force, including Taser use, a police dog and multiple law enforcement officials, was necessary to subdue Harrouff.
His defense team signaled early in the case they would seek an acquittal by reason of insanity. For that to happen, Harrouff had to convince a judge he didn’t know what he was doing at the time of the murders, or didn’t know it was wrong, and couldn’t appreciate the consequences of his actions.
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Article URL : https://news.yahoo.com/judge-rules-austin-harrouff-not-185308443.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall