AUSTIN, Texas – The man accused of stabbing a University of Texas student to death, and wounding several others has been found not guilty by reason of insanity on Tuesday.
- UT stabber in court for trial
- Found not guilty by reason of insanity
- Left student Harrison Brown dead
Travis County Judge Tamara Needles very quickly decided that former UT student Kendrex White was not sane when he stabbed several people on campus in May 2017. White is accused of killing freshman Harrison Brown during his stabbing spree outside Gregory Gym.
Instead of prison time, White will now be moved to a maximum security hospital. Dr. Maureen Burrows, who evaluated White, said she believes he has “schizoaffective disorder,” with bipolar, and depressive symptoms.
In March, White pleaded "not guilty by reason of insanity," which prompted prosecutors to evaluate his mental health while in jail. In a jailhouse interview with a Houston TV station, White claimed that he didn't remember stabbing anyone, but he did remember pulling out a knife that he carried for protection.
White’s attorneys claim poor mental health played a part in the attack. Since then, White has been charged with murder and three counts of assault.
The mother of the student killed said she was given the blood-covered backpack Harrison was wearing the day he died. Inside the backpack she found a piece of paper with a list of the accomplishments the student would like to make.
"I feel pretty sure these were his last thoughts or goals before that day that he was murdered, and the last one is 'be happy,'" said Lori Brown.
The trial without a jury started at 9 a.m. and was expected to last two days, but wrapped up on the first day. The first witness called to the stand was UT Police Officer Gregory Destasi.
In attendance on the first day of the trial is Brown's mother, family, and friends. Also in attendance is one of the stabbing victims who survived, Stuart Bayliss.