But a defense attorney for Philip Chism said the then-14-year-old was in “the throes of mental illness” when he killed 24-year-old Colleen Ritzer shortly after he moved to Massachusetts from Clarksville, Tennessee. Jurors deliberated for a little over
"She grew up here, everyone knew her, very well loved in all accounts," Steve Pangione said. The defense team argued that Chism was mentally unstable and did not know what he was doing, but jurors rejected that idea. "I'm so happy. I really didn't buy
The jury in the murder trial of Philip Chism spent almost two months hearing the excruciating details of the death of Colleen Ritzer. They viewed 140 exhibits, including photos, medical records and more than an hour of video. They weighed the testimony
Philip Chism, now 16 years old, has been found guilty of murdering his Danvers High School math teacher, Colleen Ritzer, when he was 14. Here, Chism listens to closing arguments in his trial on Monday. (Mark Lorenz/The Boston Herald via AP/Pool).
The jury in the murder trial of Philip Chism spent almost two months hearing the excruciating details of the death of Colleen Ritzer. They viewed 140 exhibits, including photos, medical records and more than an hour of video. They weighed the testimony