On Monday, a psychiatrist testified in a New Haven court at the sentencing of a man convicted of home invasion and murder that the defendant had suffered from long untreated mood disorder and deep depression.

The incident that led to the defendant's conviction involved a 2007 home invasion and murder of a mother and her two daughters. The man's accomplice was sentenced last year to death after being convicted of raping and strangling the mother and killing her daughters, who died of smoke inhalation after the home was set on fire. The defendant now faces the possibility of capital punishment.

As part of the man's defense, the psychiatrist noted that the defendant's mood disorder goes back to his childhood. From ages 4 to 6, the defendant was sexually abused by an older foster brother. Growing up, he frequently engaged in risky and physically dangerous behaviors. His family apparently was opposed to medication for religious reasons and refused to treat his condition.

As a teen, he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital after setting a vacant gas station on fire. According to school instructors at a Christian residential known as Fold in Vermont, the defendant heard claimed to hear voices telling him to kill himself, but no treatment was prescribed. Nor was any treatment prescribed for sexual abuse. Night terrors were also common for the defendant as a teen.

The defendant's attorneys are working to prevent a sentence of capital punishment. To that end, the defendant's 9-near-old daughter is expected to testify on Wednesday.

This story is a prime example of the fact that some people can be neglected and mistreated for so long that they fall into serious criminal activity. Hopefully the court will take the defendant's history into account and come back with a more lenient sentence.

Source: Washington Post, "Psychologist: Conn. home invasion killer long suffered from mood disorder that wasn't treated," November 21, 2011.