Crime & Safety
Basking Ridge Woman, Not Guilty by Insanity in Murder Attempt, to Remain Hospitalized
Marianne Barile, found not guilty of attempting to murder her mother, will remain hospitalized and have her status reviewed next year.
A Superior Court judge ruled on Thursday that a 37-year-old township woman found not guilty by reason of insanity of attempting to murder her mother on May 12, 2007 must remain hospitalized at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital.
Marianne Barile appeared in the morning before Superior Court Judge Paul Armstrong in her annual Krol hearing, a review of her psychiatric treatment.
Barile had been found not guilty in November 2008 after a psychiatrist testified that she had heard the voice of God order her to stab in her mother in their Penns Way home.
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Dr. Jennifer Park, who is treating Barile at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital, told Armstrong that Barile has a schizoaffective disorder that is being treated with drugs. Barile is on both an anti-psychotic drug and a mood stabilizer, Park testified.
In a schizoaffective disorder, a person has both schizophrenia and a mood disorder, Park said.
However, Park said, the medication "is only treating the symptoms, not curing the disease.''
Park said Barile is a "model patient,'' and is cooperative with doctors.
Park said it was "difficult" to predict Barile's future, saying that it depends on the effectiveness of the drugs and whether she takes the drugs.
"When they stop taking their medication, their symptoms come back," Park said of such patients.
"She (Barile) may have a good chance," Park said, adding that as some people become older, their conditions improve.
Park said that Barile still has problems communicating and solving problems.
Armstrong ordered that Barile remain at the same level of treatment in the hospital and that she must again appear in court for the annual Krol hearing in 12 months.
