Bryn Spejcher trial: Psychiatrist says he's '100% certain' cannabis-induced psychosis caused tragic murder

THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA: Bryn Spejcher, 32, was convicted of killing her boyfriend Chad O'Melia in a trial on December 1. However, testimony from an expert witness called by the prosecution did throw a very different light on the nature of the perpetrated crime than what was initially believed.

Spejcher stabbed her 26-year-old boyfriend 108 times with a bread knife in May 2018, killing him in the process. The former audiologist then stabbed her dog and finally proceeded to turn the knife on herself.

Police had to reportedly hit her with a baton nine times to make her stop, according to the Daily Mail.

How did the expert witness explain the tragic events?

Dr Kris Mohandie, a forensic psychiatrist and expert witness on the side of the prosecution, told the jury that the accused was a "normal" girl.

She had "no history of mental illness or violence" and was committed to "doing good" in the world.

On the night of the tragedy, her boyfriend supplied her with potent marijuana, which induced extreme psychosis in her mind.

Spejcher had testified that she had "never been high," and had attacked because she had "lost touch with reality," as the cannabis had triggered "voices in her head."

Dr Mohandie warned that people with "no prior history of violence can consume cannabis, even during one session, and then proceed to commit acts of physical violence to themselves and to others."

He stands firmly against the widespread legalization of the drug, believing it to be "more potent than it's ever been. And it's problematic."

"So people say, 'It's just marijuana,' and they try and make it seem like it's insignificant and how could that possibly happen. Well, that doesn't really fit with my professional experience. (Spejcher's) behavior is well documented, in my opinion, of psychosis," he continued.

"The things she was saying, what she was doing was consistent with psychosis, the psychotic behaviors that she would later explain to investigators and detectives and to me as well."

"The nature of it, the spontaneous things she was saying...it was consistent with the delusion and the command hallucinations and voices that she claimed she was hearing later on," he added, agreeing with the testimony from the defense.

Expert witness called by the defense was sure of cannabis-induced psychosis theory

Dr William Wirshing, clinical professor of psychiatry based in Los Angeles and acting for the defense, reportedly stated, "I don't think I can be 100 percent certain about anything but this is as certain as I can be about anything," in the context of Spejcher losing "touch with reality" and suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis.

"Most people have the belief that marijuana diminishes violent potential. When compared to drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine, that's absolutely true. Compared to nothing at all, when compared to the room air, definitely not," he added.