Black Ex-Husband Claims PTSD Means He was Not Responsible for Stabbing His White Ex-Wife to Death on a Public Bus

WPRI
February 3, 2015

A man who was accused of stabbing his ex-wife on a RIPTA bus is now being evaluated for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Christopher James confessed to stabbing Terry Chiodo in February of 2013.

A judge is going to allow a forensic psychiatrist to testify during James’ domestic murder hearing. According to the psychiatrist, James has PTSD and couldn’t have acted with premeditation.

According to court documents, Chiodo was concerned that James would hurt her. According to the document, “Chiodo had told (the witness) multiple times that she did not feel safe around the defendant and felt that he was going to kill her.”

James’ lawyer has filed a number of motions asking the judge to throw out a taped confession from James. The video recording of the confession showed James rocking back and forth, sobbing on the floor at one point, however the judge said there was nothing to suggest that he was incapacitated by his emotions and allowed the confession.

Jury selection is slated to begin on Monday.