Psychiatrist Testifies Kolodziej Displayed No Sign of Psychosis

A psychiatrist who interviewed Kevin Kolodziej the day after his arrest on murder charges testified Monday that the suspect showed no signs of schizophrenia or other psychosis.

Instead, Dr. Donald Patterson said he diagnosed Kolodziej’s mental state as a “borderline personality disorder,” which the psychiatrist described as a less serious condition.

Patterson was called by the prosecution to rebut a string of defense witnesses who have already testified at Kolodziej’s murder trial in Ventura County Superior Court. The defense experts have stated that Kolodziej has schizophrenia and was suffering a psychotic episode on Jan. 17 when he fatally stabbed 90-year-old Velasta Johnson of Ventura.

In his second day on the witness stand, Patterson disagreed.

“My opinion is that he was not psychotic at the time he entered Mrs. Johnson’s house or shortly thereafter,” Patterson said.

As evidence of Kolodziej’s clearheadedness, Patterson cited the report of two police officers who arrested Kolodziej minutes after the slaying. When one of the officers mistakenly said that a woman had been shot, Kolodziej corrected him and said she had actually been stabbed, Patterson said.

“That’s strong evidence of his mental awareness at the time of the incident in the house,” the psychiatrist said.

Kolodziej’s public defenders admit that he committed the slaying. But they insist that the 25-year-old Virginia-born drifter is severely mentally ill and is not guilty by reason of insanity.

Patterson said that in his two interviews with the defendant, he found no signs of psychosis--a loss of contact with reality--but many signs of a “borderline personality disorder.”

One of the symptoms that Kolodziej displayed, he said, was manipulative behavior, such as cutting himself on the hand when a jailer refused to grant him a phone call immediately. Other indications of the disorder were Kolodziej’s impulsive behavior, his recurrent suicide threats and his history of unstable relationships, Patterson said.

Echoing a theme previously raised by Deputy Dist. Atty. Peter D. Kossoris, Patterson said Kolodziej’s mental dysfunctions could be the result of a history of drug abuse, not a serious mental disorder.

On cross-examination, Deputy Public Defender Neil B. Quinn asked Patterson about Kolodziej’s two stays in mental hospitals last year, first in Virginia and later in Hawaii. Quinn noted that Kolodziej was admitted with a diagnosis of schizophrenia both times.

Patterson said those diagnoses were based on information from Kolodziej and his family, not from tests or long-term observation.

On the basis of his examinations, Patterson said, he believes that Kolodziej could have formed an intent to kill the victim.

“There was nothing to prevent it,” Patterson said. “There was no psychosis to prevent him from knowing what he was doing.”

However, Patterson said, “whether he did know is the court’s decision.”

Judge James M. McNally is hearing the case without a jury. Patterson is expected to conclude his testimony today, and the attorneys are expected to make their closing arguments Thursday.