A man who had part of his tongue bitten off when he allegedly tried to rape a 56-year-old Stamford woman near St. John the Evangelist Church in June 2011 has reportedly entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
During the opening day of the trial for Gerard Landon, 47, who is accused of the attempted rape, the victim took the stand and described the vicious attack, according to a report in the Stamford Advocate. Landon, formerly of Clinton Avenue, is charged with attempted first-degree sexual assault, unlawful restraint and fourth-degree sexual assault.
Dr. Justin Schechter, a Stamford psychiatrist, reportedly testified that Landon has a history of mental illness and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. He said Landon has been treated in the past for paranoid delusions as well as auditory and visual hallucinations, according to the report.
Schechter said at the time the alleged attempted rape took place, Landon had not been taking any of his three prescribed medications, according to the report.
Schechter also testified that Landon has in the past displayed hyper-sexual behavior that leads him to act inappropriately with women, the Stamford Advocate report states.
Landon, who is being represented by public defender Howard Ehring, has reportedly been incarcerated at the Garner Correctional Institution in Newtown since his arrest a day after the incident. He is being held on a $500,000 bond.
Judge Richard Comerford is to decide whether Landon is not guilty by reason of insanity.
For more, check out the Stamford Advocate report.
