CCB MEDIA PHOTO
Adrian Loya arrives in court for his arraignment in July 2015
BARNSTABLE – The attorney for a former Coast Guardsman from Virginia charged with killing a fellow Coast Guard member, then injuring her wife and a responding police officer in Bourne last February said he plans an insanity defense.
Drew Segadelli, the attorney for Adrian Loya, said in court Wednesday an independent psychiatric evaluation found that Loya was unable to understand the wrongfulness of his actions. Segadelli enlisted the services of Dr. John Daignault to conduct an evaluation of Loya.
Daignault’s evaluation, Segadelli said, found that Loya could not appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct and was not capable of conforming his conduct to the requirements of law.
“Prior to the event there are videotapes and there are other recordings and a significant database which will support Dr. Daignault’s findings about where [Loya’s] head was at prior to this occurring and on through the events of February 5th,” Segadelli said.
Loya has been held at Bridgewater State Hospital since he was arrested shortly after the incident. He has been deemed competent to stand trial. Segadelli said the focus needs to be placed on Loya’s mental state at the time of the shootings and leading up to the incident
The Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office will retain Dr. Martin Kelly to conduct his own evaluation of Loya.
Prosecutors say the 31-year-old Loya forced his way into a condominium on Roundhouse Road and killed Petty Officer Lisa Trubnikova and injured her wife, Petty Officer Anna Trubnikova, before shooting responding officer Jared MacDonald in the back.
The attack was described as an “ambush” by law enforcement. Loya is accused of using hoax explosive devices at the scene and setting his car on fire.
Loya is charged with murder, three counts of armed assault to murder; three counts of aggravated assault and battery; two counts of armed home invasion; two counts of armed assault in a dwelling; three counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony; two counts of armed kidnapping with serious bodily injury; burglary and assault on an occupant; arson of a motor vehicle; possession of a hoax device; assault and battery on a police officer; and 10 counts of possession of a large capacity feeding device.
Loya will be tried in Barnstable Superior Court, a venue Segadelli said he was comfortable with, despite the media attention and public interest the case has garnered.
“I have no reason at this time to believe that I could not obtain an impartial jury of fair members of our community to render a fair verdict,” Segadelli said.
Loya will return to court for another hearing on February 12.
By MATT McCARTHY, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
Content from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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