PITTSBURGH (AP) — A defense attorney says his mentally ill client held a Pittsburgh businessman hostage last month because the suspect hadn't taken his medication and heard a crow and other voices telling him to do it.
The attorney, Blaine Jones, says 22-year-old Klein Michael Thaxton is back on his medication and is relieved nobody was hurt.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (http://bit.ly/Tu4dWd) reported the comments Wednesday after a Pittsburgh district judge ordered Thaxton to stand trial on charges including terroristic threats and aggravated assault.
Police say Thaxton held the man at knifepoint inside a downtown office building on Sept. 21. During the ensuing standoff with police, investigators say Thaxton posted comments and updates to Facebook using his hostage's computer and smartphone.
Thaxton surrendered after more than five hours without hurting the man.
___
Information from: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, http://www.post-gazette.com
