By: Hollie Hojek
hhojek@Kcautv.com
The last person to take the stand in the trial of Thomas Rausch Junior was forensic psychologist Dr. Allen Goldstein.
Goldstein says it was years of "bottled up" emotions that led Rausch to react so violently on that January day last year, Rausch Jr. stabbed his pregnant ex-girlfriend, several times... including in the stomach. Rausch is pleading not guilty by reason of "diminished responsibility"which means, he's saying at the time he wasn't consciously aware of what he was doing while stabbing her. A defense witness who is a forensic psychologist supports that argument.
"It's my opinion that at the time of the crime, he was so overwhelmed by what was going on inside of him, that he acted without fully thinking, recognizing what he was doing. That his judgment and thinking was that impaired," said Goldstein.
Dr. Goldstein refers to Rausch's behavior the day he stabbed Ms. Smith, as "disassociation." According to Goldstein it's a rare phenomena of separation of thought and action, a way to block out memories, often brought on by extreme stress.
Goldstein says according to his research Rausch has a history of gaps in memory, or disassociation. But Rausch sent a text message after the stabbing which has the state believing he intentionally tried to harm Ms. Smith.
But Raush said he sent the message because he was scared.
"It doesn't mean that he wasn't filled with rage... it doesn't mean that he wasn't angry... obviously something has to fuel this. But the fuel is so great that there's a disconnect between the fueling and the action," said Goldstein.
Rausch is being charged with attempted murder, willful injury and going armed with intent. If found guilty... He could face up to 40 years in prison. The trial ended with each side agreeing to write up their final arguments and submit them for the judge to read in the next week and a half.
