Local News

Testimony concluding in Fla. teen beating trial

Posted: 07/13/12 at 6:20 am EDT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) -- Testimony is wrapping up in the attempted murder trial of Florida teenager Wayne Treacy, who's claiming insanity in a 2010 kicking and stomping attack on a 15-year-old girl.

Prosecutors are expected Friday to call a mental health expert to rebut the insanity defense. Defense experts testified that Treacy's assault on Josie Lou Ratley because of post-traumatic stress disorder triggered by his brother's suicide. The defense must show jurors Treacy couldn't tell right from wrong.

The violence at a middle school bus loop came after Ratley made reference to the brother's death in a series of vulgar and insulting text messages between the two. Ratley nearly died and has permanent brain injuries.

Treacy faces a maximum 50-year prison sentence if convicted of attempted first-degree murder.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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