The Night Fire (Renée Ballard, #3)(8)
“Good morning, Dr. Stein,” she said, providing Bosch with at least part of the psychiatrist’s name.
“Good morning,” Stein replied warily. “Let’s now talk about something else regarding the defendant. Do you know whether upon his arrest and subsequent treatment at County-USC a blood sample was taken from him and scanned for drugs and alcohol?”
“Yes, it was. That would’ve been routine.”
“And when you reviewed this case for the defense, did you review the results of the blood test?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Can you tell the jury what, if anything, the scan revealed?”
“It showed low levels of a drug called paliperidone.”
“Are you familiar with paliperidone?”
“Yes, I prescribed it for Mr. Herstadt.”
“What is paliperidone?”
“It is a dopamine antagonist. A psychotropic used to treat schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. In many cases, if administered properly, it allows those afflicted with the disorder to lead normal lives.”
“And does it have any side effects?”
“A variety of side effects can occur. Each case is different, and we come up with drug therapies that fit individual patients while taking into account any side effects that are exhibited.”
“Do you know that the manufacturer of paliperidone warns users that side effects can include agitation and aggression?”
“Well, yes, but in Jeffrey’s—”
“Just a yes or no answer, Doctor. Are you aware of those side effects, yes or no?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you, Doctor. And just a moment ago, when you described the drug paliperidone, you used the phrase ‘if administered properly.’ Do you remember saying that?”
“Yes.”
“Now at the time of this crime, do you know where Jeffrey Herstadt was living?”
“Yes, in a group home in Angelino Heights.”
“And he had a prescription from you for paliperidone, correct?”
“Yes.”
“And who was in charge of properly administering the drug to him in that group home?”
“There is a social worker assigned to the home who administers the prescriptions.”
“So, do you have firsthand knowledge that this drug was properly administered to Mr. Herstadt?”
“I don’t really understand the question. I saw the blood scans after he was arrested and they showed the proper levels of paliperidone, so one can assume he was being given and was taking his dosage.”
“Can you tell this jury for a fact that he did not take his dosage after the murder but before his blood was drawn at the hospital?”
“Well, no, but—”
“Can you tell this jury that he didn’t hoard his pills and take several at once before the murder?”
“Again, no, but you are getting into—”
“No further questions.”
Saldano moved to the prosecution table and sat down. Bosch watched Haller stand up immediately and tell the judge he would be quick with redirect. The judge nodded his approval.
“Doctor, would you like to finish your answer to Ms. Saldano’s last question?” Haller asked.
“I would, yes,” Stein said. “I was just going to say that the blood scan from the hospital showed a proper level of the drug in his bloodstream. Any scenario other than proper administration doesn’t add up. Whether he was hoarding and then overmedicating, or not medicating and took a pill after the crime, it would have been apparent in the levels on the scan.”
“Thank you, Doctor. How long had you been treating Jeffrey before this incident occurred?”
“Four years.”
“When did you put him on paliperidone?”
“Four years ago.”
“Did you ever see him act aggressively toward anyone?”
“No, I did not.”
“Did you ever hear of him acting aggressively toward anyone?”
“Before this … incident, no, I did not.”
“Did you get regular reports on his behavior from the group home where he lived?”
“I did, yes.”
“Was there ever a report from the group home about Jeffrey being violent?”
“No, never.”
“Were you ever concerned that he might be violent toward you or any member of the public?”
“No. If that had been the case, I would have prescribed a different drug therapy.”
“Now, as a psychiatrist you are also a medical doctor, is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“And when you reviewed this case did you also look at the autopsy records on Judge Montgomery?”
“I did, yes.”
“You saw that he was stabbed three times in close proximity under the right armpit, correct?”
“Yes, I did.”
Saldano stood and objected.
“Your Honor, where is he going with this?” she asked. “This is beyond the scope of my cross-examination.”
Falcone looked at Haller.
“I was wondering the same thing, Mr. Haller.”
“Judge, it is somewhat new territory but I did reserve the right to recall Dr. Stein. If the prosecution wants, we can go to lunch and I will recall him right afterward, or we can just take care of this right here. I’ll be quick.”