NEWS

SUMNER A.M.
SUNDAY APRIL 1, 2012 GALLATIN, TENNESSEE SERVING SUMNER COUNTY SINCE 1840

HOLT ATTENDS EMERGENCY TRAINING EVENT 2M

50

Wife claims abuse in Gallatin murder trial

By Alexander Quinones
Sumner A.M.

Joan Richardson (left) heads out of the courtroom Thursday after testifying in her first-degree murder trial. ALEXANDER QUINONES/SUMNER A.M.

A Sumner County jury was deliberating on Friday the fate of a Gallatin woman for the 2010 shooting death of her husband. Fifty-nine-year-old Joan Richardson was charged with first-degree murder in the death of her husband David. O. Richardson Sr. During the prosecutors closing arguments Friday morning, the jury heard the 911 call Rich-

ardson made after she shot her husband. He can be heard in the background moaning in pain. Joan, Joan, why did you shoot me? he said on the tape. Call the doctor. During the call, Joan Richardson told the operator, I was going to kill him. I was going to kill him, so that he wont be mean to me any more. Im so sorry David. The defense argued that Richardson, who was abused by her husband, was not in a culpable

state of mind, meaning that she was not aware of what she was doing and could not be held responsible. If she had planned to kill her husband, she could have done a better job of planning it. She wouldnt even be sitting here if she had that culpable state of mind, said Richardsons defense attorney, David Ridings. She could have gotten away scot-free.

MURDER, 3M

SOUPS ON

School employees will not see 3rd pay cut

Board to discuss outsourcing Tuesday
By Jennifer Easton
Sumner A.M.

Vic and Jackie Leathers joke around during the soup benefit they organized that raised $450 for Good Neighbor Mission, HomeSafe and Gallatin C.A.R.E.S. at Crestview Funeral Home in Gallatin on March 27. PHOTOS BY DESSISLAVA YANKOVA/SUMNER A.M.

Gallatin soup event benefits 3 local charities

By Dessislava Yankova
Sumner A.M.

Three Sumner charities can help more people after a benefit at a local funeral home on Tuesday. Donations helped raise $225 for the Good Neighbor Mission, HomeSafe and Gallatin C.A.R.E.S. at the Soup for Sumner fundraiser initiated by and held at Crestview Funeral Home in Gallatin. Crestview also matched the proceeds for a total of $450 for the three charities. For a $5 donation, attendees could have a steaming bowl of chicken noodle, roasted red potato or tomato bisque soup, crackers, tea or coffee and an assortment of cookies for dessert. Each guest also received a ticket to vote for a favorite charity. Initially funeral home officials had planned to

School system employees furloughed three days in December will not lose wages for the third day they were required to be off. The Board of Education on March 27 voted 9-2 to restore the lost wages for one day of missed work in December. The furlough, which affected 376 classified and certified employees, was approved by the board in September as part of a cost-saving measure designed to save $237,000 in the districts 2011-12 general purpose budget. The plan called for deducting one day of pay from employees paychecks in January, February and March. Westmoreland school board member David Brown in February proposed deferring the March deduction so the board could consider canceling the final deduction. I had several people come to me and tell me how sad they were, Brown told board members at the March 27 meeting. They had bills and credit card bills after Christmas. They couldnt pay their bills. Bethpage member Will Duncan agreed, saying the board shouldnt have allowed the furlough in the first place because some of the school systems lowest-paid employees were hit hard by the pay cut. Fairness is the best policy we can have, Duncan said. Im going to do whatever needs to be done to satisfy these people.

PAY CUT, 4M

CRESTVIEW, 6M

Nicolas Crocco, 5, hesitates at the thought of eating tomato bisque soup, one of his least favorite meals.

Friday the 13th promotion returns

Anyone looking to subscribe to the Gallatin News Examiner is in luck. On Friday, April 13, we will again run our popular Friday the 13th promotion for one day only. Readers can subscribe for one year to the News Examiner for just $21, which is 50 percent off the regular rate of $42 a year. The subscription includes home delivery of the Wednesday and Friday editions, as well as the Sunday Gallatin News Examiner/Sumner A.M. edition and Sundays Tennessean at no extra charge. The Friday, April13 promotion, available for Sumner County addresses only, will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at our offices at 1 Examiner Court in Gallatin, or via credit card over the phone at 4522561. This promotion is also available to current subscribers looking to extend for an additional year. This is your perfect opportunity to enjoy the News Examiners award-winning coverage of Gallatin and Sumner County, as well as the hundreds of dollars in coupons offered most weeks.
Mike Towle, general manager/Sumner A.M.

Dog Daze to be at Streets of Indian Lake

By Sherry Mitchell
Sumner A.M.

Local dogs are invited to bring their owners to the seventh annual Dog Daze of Hendersonville celebration, scheduled for Saturday, April 14. Just for the day, center court at the Streets of Indian Lake will double as a dog gathering of sorts, with the opportunity for pooches to mingle with other canine friends, and their owners to browse a variety of vendor booths related to animal care. Its a place they can come with their pets and this is

something they can both enjoy with no cover charge, said Diana Townsend, founder of Safe Place for Animals, the nonprofit that is sponsoring the event. A lot of the people just look forward to doing it because it has gotten to be such a big event. The event draws hundreds of residents each year for a day filled with dog-themed contests, demonstrations and seminars on health and animal well-being. Several rescue groups and shelters including SPA will bring pets who need owners.

DOG DAZE, 4M

Dogs and owners can participate in many activities at Dog Daze on April 14. SHERRY MITCHELL/FILE PHOTO

233,000 people in Sumner County read our newspapers and use our websites every week.
GallatinNewsExaminer.com MetroMix.com

2012 GANNETT CO., INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED SUBSCRIBE: 1-800-520-9286

SUMNER A.M.

NEWS

SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2012

3M

Expert: no symptoms of PTSD exhibited

MURDER FROM 1M
The prosecution argued Richardson was aware of her actions. The proof is clear that Joan Richardson picked up that gun, said Assistant District Attorney Tara Wyllie. She picked up that gun with the intention to kill. state in which a person loses touch with reality and has something commonly called an out of body experience. Zager, who met with Richardson three times between March 2011 and February 2012, diagnosed Richardson with post-traumatic stress disorder, a psychological condition usually brought on by the stress of a traumatic event. Zager said she could not pinpoint a specific traumatic event that would have caused PTSD but said that the abuse she endured from her husband, as well as previous abuse from her father, brother and a boyfriend growing up, was to blame. Richardson was being treated for anxiety and depression since 1972 but had never been diagnosed with PTSD. Zager argued that she was not diagnosed with a mental illness because she never talked about the abuse she suffered in her marriage. A couple of times during her testimony, Richardson addressed her husbands sister, Susan Addison, who was sitting in the courtroom and said, Susie, Im so sorry. When she stepped down from the witness box, Richardson, who is out on a $1.5 million bond, walked over to Addison and hugged her.

Gun cocked
The incident occurred on Dec. 16, 2010 at around 1:30 p.m. at their home on University Drive. According to court testimony, Richardson had made her husband lunch that day, and he fell asleep in a recliner chair in the living room. She then went into their bedroom and grabbed a gun she had inherited from her father. She testified Thursday that she was feeling very lonely and very depressed. She pulled the hammer back on the gun. She said she initially thought about killing herself but instead went into the living room. Zager said cocking the gun was a significant event. Even though the gun was Richardsons, Zager said her husband never let her touch it. When she cocked the gun, she realized she didnt know how to decock it and thought she would get into trouble. Zager argued Richardson was in a dissociative state and therefore had a diminished mental capacity to think rationally. Her capacity flickered

Richardson takes the stand

Joan Richardson took the stand on Thursday. She testified that she did not mean to kill her husband and did not remember much about the incident. I dont remember shooting him, she said. I just remember the sound of the gun. I remember the smell (of the gunpowder), and I remember I called 911. Richardson testified that she asked him several times for a divorce but he refused. Lynne D. Zager, a psychologist hired by the defense to evaluate Richardson, said Richardson was in a dissociative state when she shot her husband, and was therefore not responsible for his death. Experts explained a dissociative state is a serious mental

when she pulled the hammer (of the gun) back, she said. Zager said Richardsons agitated state stemmed from an incident a week before when David Richardson got upset over a pharmacy not getting his prescription order correct and assaulted his wife. He got angry at Richardson, threw the medicine bottle at her, grabbed her by the neck, choked her and then threw her against the dresser and around the room. She hit her head and passed out. Richardson said that when she awoke, she had a headache and felt like she wanted to throw up. They both agreed that she might have a concussion. Her husband did an online search for advice instead of taking her to the hospital. Richardson ended up staying in bed three days. Richardson also testified that her husband would hit her, once when she was pregnant, and called her names, such as idiot and stupid. After she cocked the gun on that day, she went to the living room and shot her husband once in the abdomen.

PTSD vs. depression

To counter the defenses main argument that Richardson suffered from PTSD, District Attorney L. Ray Whitley called Dr. Rokeya Farooque, a government psychiatrist who was asked to evaluate Richardsons ability to stand trial. Farooque had spoken every day to Richardson for 27 days and had concluded she was fit to stand trial, did not suffer from dissociative states and did not have PTSD, which she said is what some veterans suffer from after witnessing horrific acts of war. She did, however, diagnose Richardson with a moderate form of depression. When asked what evidence she had to show that Richardson was aware of her actions, Farooque pointed to the fact that Richardson was able to run errands earlier that morning, and that, when they spoke, Richardson told her she shot her husband in the abdomen so he would survive the gunshot. These are not the reasonings of a person out of touch with reality, Farooque argued. She wanted him to get help, Dr. Farooque said. Thats why she didnt point to the head or chest.

That shows to me she was in touch with reality. David Richardson died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center during surgery the same day he was shot. When asked why she didnt think Richardson had PTSD, Farooque said she didnt suffer from signature symptoms of the disorder, including flashbacks, emotional numbness and avoidance of situations that would remind her of the initial trauma. Its lots of problems you have to have to get that PTSD diagnosis, Farooque said. I didnt see or hear any flashback by her. I didnt see any numbness. I didnt see any symptoms of PTSD. The prosecution also pointed to a phone call Richardson made to her mother from jail, during which Richardson said, referring to the incident, I thought about it, and I thought about it, and I shot him. Richardson faces a sentence of up to life in prison if convicted. Go online to GallatinNewsExaminer.com for the latest in the case.
Reporter Alexander Quinones can be reached at 575-7114.

Open Monday-Saturday

LIPO B
(injections or tablets)

The Center for Restorative Medicine

Renewing hope. Restoring health. Reclaiming life. ere IS hope. At e Center for Restorative Medicine we don't just treat symptoms. We look for the root cause of illness and then use all necessary conventional, alternative and natural treatments to help you achieve real wellness.
Voted Best Family Physician in Sumner County 2011, 2010 & 2009

6 WEEK SERIES

$105 or $20 each

133 Indian Lake Road, Suite 204 Hendersonville NOW 615.822.9002 AVAILABLE! Pharmaceutical hCG
(Injections or Sublingual)

With coupon. Not valid with any other offers. Expires 6/14/12

ONLY $
reg. $10

Lipo B (Fat Burner) (Injections or Sublingual) Vitamin B12 Vitamin B Complex PrescriptionPlus Program (phentermine 37.5)

B12 Injections

Now Accepting New Patients Board Certied Family Medicine Most Insurance Welcome including HealthSpring Seniors, Adults, Teens, & Children Same Day Appointments Available

SumnerDietRx.com
TN-0000796971

With coupon. Not valid with any other offers. Expires 6/14/12

615.338.0123 www.restoreyou.net

Michael R. Bernui, D.O., FAAFP

Paul J. Leavitt, MD

www.leavittfamilymedicine.com

826-5664

353 New Shackle Island Rd. Ste. 103A Hendersonville Medical Center

HEADQUARTERED IN GooDlettSville

Local underwriting, Lo Local service, Local hospitality ... L

Conduct business with licensed, professionial loan ocers!

ce o w e N now in ille! v n o s r e Hend
100 Cunry Cub Dr Su 108 Hendersonville, TN 37075
Next to the Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce
NOW HIRING: LOAN OFFICERS Top Compensation package oered. Send condential resume to Susanne Jackson, Sr. Director, Human Resources sjackson@myacopia.com

Watch for the rst time homebuyers seminar coming soon sponsored by your Hendersonville professionals!

615.822.0000

Please join us in welcoming Rhonda Holt and Pam Neighbours who have recently joined the Acopia Hendersonville Team.

Rhonda Holt NMlS # 771198

Pam Neighbours NMlS # 771212

www.acopiahomeloans.com

NMLS # 4664