• An expert at Bryn Spejcher trial testified she was suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis at the time of the 2018 attack• Spejcher stabbed her boyfriend more than 100 times and also stabbed herself• The judge defending his decision to spare Spejcher prison time: “From that point forward, she had no control over her actions," he saidA California woman who was facing up to four years in prison for fatally stabbing her boyfriend more than 100 times during a drug-induced psychotic episode in 2018 was instead sentenced this week to two years probation and 100 hours of community service.Last December, Bryn Spejcher, 32, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the killing of her boyfriend Chad O’Melia, 26, theVentura County Star, theLos Angeles TimesandKTLAreported from the courtroom. She had been facing a possible four year prison term ahead of her Tuesday sentencing hearing.On May 27, 2018, prosecutors said Spejcher fatally stabbed O’Melia, an accountant, inside his Thousand Oaks, Calif., apartment approximately 108 times after the couple had smoked marijuana together, theVentura County Starreported. She also repeatedly stabbed herself.Facebook, Ventura County District Attorney’s OfficeAccording to theVentura County Star, police officers who responded to the scene said they found Spejcher in a pool of blood holding a knife. They reportedly had to use a Taser device and a baton to disarm her and take her into custody.During the trial, a medical expert testified that Spejcher’s behavior was the result of cannabis-induced psychosis, theL.A. Timesreported. According to theNational Library of Medicine, a diagnosis of the disorder is given when hallucinations or delusions materialize shortly after consuming cannabis.Spejcher’s defense attorneys claimed that their client was “involuntarily intoxicated,” and that O’Melia had allegedly bullied and intimidated her into smoking the last bit of marijuana, according to theVentura County Star.O’Melia’s family faced Spejcher in court at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, where she expressed remorse for her behavior.“My actions have ripped your family apart,” she said, per theVentura County Star. “I am broken and aching inside. I hurt that you never see Chad again.”Shane O’Melia, the victim’s brother, grieved his loved one at the hearing and shared the difficulties of knowing Spejcher had been out on bail since her arrest in 2018.Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.“It’s been five and a half years where she has got to live with her family and we get to live with a box of ashes,” Shane said, according to KTLA.Ventura County Superior Court Judge David Worley defended his decision to sentence Spejcher to no prison time.“From that point forward, she had no control over her actions,” he said, referring to the moments after she had smoked the portion of marijuana, per theVentura County Star.Spejcher’s attorney Michael Goldstein agreed, calling the sentence a fair and accurate reflection of conduct that he claims was out of his client’s control, according to theL.A. Times.
• An expert at Bryn Spejcher trial testified she was suffering from cannabis-induced psychosis at the time of the 2018 attack
• Spejcher stabbed her boyfriend more than 100 times and also stabbed herself
• The judge defending his decision to spare Spejcher prison time: “From that point forward, she had no control over her actions," he said
A California woman who was facing up to four years in prison for fatally stabbing her boyfriend more than 100 times during a drug-induced psychotic episode in 2018 was instead sentenced this week to two years probation and 100 hours of community service.
Last December, Bryn Spejcher, 32, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the killing of her boyfriend Chad O’Melia, 26, theVentura County Star, theLos Angeles TimesandKTLAreported from the courtroom. She had been facing a possible four year prison term ahead of her Tuesday sentencing hearing.
On May 27, 2018, prosecutors said Spejcher fatally stabbed O’Melia, an accountant, inside his Thousand Oaks, Calif., apartment approximately 108 times after the couple had smoked marijuana together, theVentura County Starreported. She also repeatedly stabbed herself.
Facebook, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office
According to theVentura County Star, police officers who responded to the scene said they found Spejcher in a pool of blood holding a knife. They reportedly had to use a Taser device and a baton to disarm her and take her into custody.
During the trial, a medical expert testified that Spejcher’s behavior was the result of cannabis-induced psychosis, theL.A. Timesreported. According to theNational Library of Medicine, a diagnosis of the disorder is given when hallucinations or delusions materialize shortly after consuming cannabis.
Spejcher’s defense attorneys claimed that their client was “involuntarily intoxicated,” and that O’Melia had allegedly bullied and intimidated her into smoking the last bit of marijuana, according to theVentura County Star.
O’Melia’s family faced Spejcher in court at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, where she expressed remorse for her behavior.
“My actions have ripped your family apart,” she said, per theVentura County Star. “I am broken and aching inside. I hurt that you never see Chad again.”
Shane O’Melia, the victim’s brother, grieved his loved one at the hearing and shared the difficulties of knowing Spejcher had been out on bail since her arrest in 2018.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
“It’s been five and a half years where she has got to live with her family and we get to live with a box of ashes,” Shane said, according to KTLA.
Ventura County Superior Court Judge David Worley defended his decision to sentence Spejcher to no prison time.
“From that point forward, she had no control over her actions,” he said, referring to the moments after she had smoked the portion of marijuana, per theVentura County Star.
Spejcher’s attorney Michael Goldstein agreed, calling the sentence a fair and accurate reflection of conduct that he claims was out of his client’s control, according to theL.A. Times.
source: people.com
