Psychologist argues for legal insanity
MODESTO — Testimony continued Wednesday in the sanity trial of a convicted murderer to determine where he’ll serve an eventual sentence for the 2008 murder of Madera teen Krista-Rae Pike.
Defense-hired psychologist Richard Blak, who has performed at least 40 “1026” analyses — to determine the validity of criminal insanity pleas — took the stand in Stanislaus County court and testified on his extensive work with Gran.
Blak said through at least six hours of face-to-face interviews and review of medical documents, he determined Gran was legally insane when he ended Pike’s life.
That determination goes against two previous Madera-court-appointed psychologists, who said — after their own interviews with Gran and record review — that Gran was sane...