1/7/14 - The man accused of dozens of random shootings along the I-96 corridor heads to trial next week in Livingston County, although some expert testimony sought by the defense will be excluded. 44-year-old Raulie Casteel of Wixom faces multiple counts including terrorism in Livingston County Circuit Court. That trial will get underway next week and is being prosecuted by the Michigan Attorney Generalâs Office. Spokeswoman Joy Yearout confirmed for WHMI that testimony about Casteel's mental state was ruled inadmissible at trial by Circuit Court Judge David Reader at a hearing last Thursday. Casteelâs defense attorney had asked the testimony be allowed at trial to demonstrate that he suffers from delusional disorder, but the Attorney Generalâs office maintained it was not allowed by law since the defense had not given proper notice of an insanity defense. If convicted on the state charges, Casteel would face up to life behind bars. Meanwhile, Casteel is scheduled to be sentenced January 30th in Oakland County, where he originally faced 60 charges linked to shootings in Commerce Township and Wixom in October of 2012. He pleaded no contest but mentally ill on six charges of assault with the intent to cause great bodily harm less than murder and six felony charges of possession of a firearm. In exchange, the remaining charges were dropped. (JM)
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