Psychiatrist discusses victim’s delusions, suicide attempts in Vassey trial

BOLIVIA, NC (WWAY) — The ninth day of the trail of former Southport officer Bryon Vassey continued today in Bolivia.

Dr. Moira Artigues took the stand as a witness for the defense. Atrigues is a forensic psychiatrist. While on the stand the defense questioned Artigues about Keith Vidal’s risk to himself and those around him. Artigues sited a number of medical records showing several involuntary commitments to medical facilities. She said it was her opinion that Vidal was at a high risk for suicide and homicide, especially on the day of his death. Artigues said Vidal has a history of schizophrenia in his family and that put him at a higher chance of having it.

During her testimony, Artigues said Vidal suffered from delusions, including believing the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office was following him. She sited several suicide attempts in his past, including hitting himself in the head with a brick, trying to hang himself with a cord and talking about drinking bleach.

The state brought up that Atrigues is being paid for her time in the courtroom, $310 an hour by the Police Benevolence Association. Artigues said she is only being paid for her time and not her testimony.

At the time of her report on the dangerousness of Keith Vidal, Artigues said she did not have his most recent medical records, which she said she saw in the courtroom for the first time today.

The state pointed out that the doctors on those records said Vidal was neither at risk for suicide nor harming others.

Court is in recess until 2:00 p.m.