Jury rejects insanity defence in fatal police standoff
OSHKOSH, Wis. – A jury has rejected the insanity defence of a Wisconsin man convicted of starting a standoff with police that led to the death of one of his hostages at a motorcycle shop.
The Winnebago County jury determined Monday that 48-year-old Brian Flatoff did not suffer from a mental disease or defect during the 2015 standoff at Eagle Nation Cycles in Neenah.
USA Today Network-Wisconsin reports the verdict means Flatoff is responsible for 14 felony convictions for his actions that day. The judge scheduled sentencing for May 16.
Prosecutors say Flatoff shot at officers and initiated the sequence of events that led to the death of Michael Funk. Police mistakenly shot Funk, one of the hostages, during the standoff.
A court-appointed psychologist testified Flatoff could appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions.
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