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"A PSYCHIATRIC DEFENSE WILL FAIL"

Newman Ferrara attorney -- Professor Randolph McLaughlin -- is quoted in this News12 report:

Accused Pelham shooting spree officer Brendan Cronin back in court

Originally published: July 24, 2014

The attorney for Cronin may be laying the groundwork for a psychiatric defense.

WHITE PLAINS - A New York City police officer was in court this morning in connection with an alleged drunken shooting spree in Westchester.

Brendan Cronin, 27, of Yonkers, was in Westchester County Court two weeks ago for his arraignment where he entered a not guilty plea on a five-count grand jury indictment that includes two counts of attempted murder.

Cronin is accused of firing his 9 mm service weapon at two men in Pelham in April. According to investigators, Cronin, who had been parked nearby, walked up to a car stopped at a red light and fired 14 rounds into the vehicle. The two men, Robert Borelli and Joseph Felice, had been returning from a hockey game. Borelli was not shot, but Felice was hit six times and is still recovering from his gunshot wounds.

Investigators say Cronin told cops on the scene that he was on his way home from a City Island bar after spending a day fire arms training and that he'd had 10 drinks of beer and whiskey.

A nearby surveillance camera caught the incident on tape.

Today's hearing was mostly about setting dates for filing legal papers. But Cronin's attorney also filed a psychiatric notice, which indicates he may be laying the groundwork for a psychiatric defense.

The attorney representing Cronin's two alleged victims isn't buying it. "I think a psychiatric defense will fail and will not excuse the conduct he's engaged in," says attorney Randolph McLaughlin.

Cronin remains out on bail. A judge has issued an order of protection for the two men allegedly shot by Cronin.

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