Massachusetts teen charged with teacher's slaying may use insanity defense; seek to move trial

Published May 03, 2016

Lawyers for the Massachusetts teen charged with raping and killing his high school math teacher say they are "mulling" an insanity defense and will ask that the trial be moved.

Philip Chism's lawyers made the comments Tuesday in a hearing in Salem Superior Court to determine whether statements the now 16-year-old boy made to police should be dismissed as evidence.

The judge said a decision could come as soon as Friday.

Chism is charged with murder as an adult in the October 2013 slaying of Colleen Ritzer, a teacher at Danvers High School. Chism was 14 at the time.

The Salem News (http://bit.ly/1Daq3oz ) reports that Chism's lawyer, Denise Regan, indicated she will ask that the trial be moved out of Essex County because of the extensive media coverage the case has received.

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Information from: The Salem (Mass.) News, http://www.salemnews.com

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