Evening star., 1950-02-03
State Mental Expert
Ready 10 Question
Girl Mercy Slayer
BY the Associated Press

BRIDGEPORT, Conn, Feb. g.
The State had it's own mental ace
ready today to question Carol Ann
Paight's story of mental blackout
in which she killed her cancer
stricken father.
| He is DR.. Joseph j. Lesko who
Examined the slender 21-year-old
blond after she shot her father in
a Stamford hospital last Septemr
ber %.
Miss Paight took the stand
yesterday. Her 6-foot form shook
as she whispered II don't re-
member" to all questions about
the mercy killing.
DR.. Lesko, at the right hand of
States Attorney Lorin w. Willis,
followed every word of her o.
minute testimony with interest.
He has been at Mr.. Willis side
almost constantly since the trial
began in Fairfield County Superior
Court January "a.
INSANITY Flea Sought.
The State is making a final
effort to answer defense testi-
mony that mental phobia
against cancer sent the defendant
into forgetful insanity when she
learned Sergt. Carl Paight was
doomed by the disease.
Sergt. Paight, 52-year- old STAN
ford policeman, was the father
for whom the defense says Caro-.
had a deep bond of love. ,.
The girl is pleading temporary
insanity to the second degree
murder charge, which carries
mandatory life imprisonment or
conviction.
Final arguments for both sides
are expected next Tuesday after
a three-day weekend recess.
An hour after Miss Paight -
near the breaking point-ended
her witness stand ordeal in her
own defense, the State rested its
case yesterday afternoon.
Rebuttal Started.
Mr.. Willis Immediately started
rebuttal by recalling DR.. John @
Snavely, who performed the
autopsy after Sergt. Paight died.
A defense witness, DR.. William
E. Smith, testified Sergt. Paight
had three months at best to live
His diagnosis, the. defense con-
tends, drove Miss Paight into
temporary insanity.
II think any guess as to how
long he might live was a very
hazardous guess" DR.. Snavely
testified.
He did not argue that DR.. Smith
was wrong. Sergt. Paight's can
Ger was too far gone to yield to
an operation, DR.. Snavely admit
ted
But, the pathologist said, no
one was in a position to say for
certain that the policeman might
not have lived for months or even
years.
Miss Paight held herself erect
as she walked to the stand in
mid afternoon. She appeared as
calm as she had been during most
of the first seven days in court
I But she choked up at the very
first question. Her eyes brirnmed
her lips quivered. Judge John A
Cornell took one look at her, anG
called a recess.
| Becomes Quieter.
I Miss Paight seemed to quie
down during the 15-minute break
Back on the stand, however, he
voice broke again and she wipet
tears from her eyes. She did no
break down, however, and stiff!
finished her testimony.
She told of hearing DR.. Smith
say daddy is riddled with can
cer." That's all I remember,
q whispered the girl.
"Do you remember shootin,
your ftaher?' asked her attorney
: mo" she replied.
She nodded woodenly and said
Eyes, sir" as she was questioned
!, about other relatives who died o
cancer.
did you have a fear of can
cer?" she was asked.
; Eyes, sir" said the girl.
Prosecutor Willis, stern ant
sometimes harsh with other wit
nesses, was just as gentle as tn