Lawyers file to pursue insanity defense for man who strangled mother to death

LACONIA — The city resident accused of killing his mother, in April, was due in Belknap County Superior Court for a reading of his charges Friday, but the arraignment was waived. His lawyers are pursuing an insanity defense.

Christopher Garon, 33, was indicted by the Grand Jury in the death of his mother, 58-year-old Linda Dionne, who was found strangled to death in her home on Old Prescott Road on April 14.

An indictment is not an indication of guilt, but instead means a Grand Jury found enough evidence of an alleged crime to bring it to trial.

Garon is facing one charge of second-degree murder for knowingly causing Dionne’s death by strangling her, and an alternate charge for recklessly causing Dionne’s death “under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life by strangling her.”

Garon could face life in prison if convicted.

Laconia Police responded to Old Prescott Road at 1:40 p.m., on April 14, where officers found Dionne dead inside her home, and Garon at the residence. The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy the following day, determining Dionne was strangled, and her manner of death was homicide.

Laconia Police also found the body of 62-year-old John Anderson stabbed to death in a South Main Street apartment that morning, and do not believe the cases are related. No charges have been filed in Anderson's death.

The charging documents in the State vs. Christopher Garon are sealed. The case is being prosecuted by the state Attorney General’s Office, led by attorneys Nicholas Chong Yen and Ryan Nicholas Olberding. Margaret Kettles and Erin Ferry, of NH Public Defenders, are representing Garon.

Garon was scheduled for a first appearance in Laconia District Court on April 15, which was delayed and held virtually the next day. Garon refused to appear in court, and jail staff didn’t feel safe transporting him due to his behavior, leaving a “no plea” to be entered on his behalf.

He was initially held in Belknap County Jail, and moved to the State Prison psychiatric unit on April 23. Garon was due back in Laconia District Court for a competency hearing on May 26, but could not appear due to transportation issues. He appeared in person on June 2. His competency was discussed, and the hearing was sealed.

State law allows for a competency hearing to be sealed through Rule 51, which states all information provided for evaluating the sanity or competency of the defendant can’t be used for other purposes, unless permitted by the court. The prosecution said sealed such hearings is customary.

A probable cause hearing was scheduled for June 10, but waived by the defense. The case was elevated to Superior Court, and indictments were handed down on Aug. 24.

The defense filed a notice of using the insanity defense and request to split trial Sept. 4. The document states the defense was giving notice to the court they may rely on the defense of insanity per state law. It referred to the law saying an “insane person” isn’t criminally responsible for what is done while insane.

“The defendant reserves the right to argue and offer evidence that to the extent he took any action in this case, he is not criminally responsible for that conduct because at the time of the conduct, he was suffering from a mental disease or defect, and that mental disease or defect caused his actions,” the document states.

The request for splitting the trial, meaning it will be separated into two phases — guilt and sanity — was made citing the defendant’s right under Novosel vs. Helgemoe, a 1979 case.

“We therefore hold that if a not guilty plea is coupled with an insanity defense, the defendant shall, upon request, receive a bifurcated hearing before the same judge and jury,” the document states.

The document added this is not a change of plea.

The waiver of arraignment was filed on Sept. 4, as well. The court ordered Garon be detained pending trial, and he is still in the State Prison psychiatric unit. A stipulation is he shall have no contact with eight people associated with his mother's family.

A voicemail left with Kettles was not returned by deadline.

Michael Garrity, spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office, said he had no public updates. He said a dispositional conference is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 23.