FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A psychologist testified Thursday as a paid defense expert witness in the penalty phase for the man who killed a Hollywood police officer in 2021, describing her meetings with him.
“(He had) depression about what happened, and not only his fate, I would say, periods when he is not eating well, he is not sleeping well, saying that he was also psychologically stable. So he’s not psychotic, he was not hearing voices. He was very stable psychologically,” Dr. Yenys Castillo said.
Jason Banegas, 22, has already pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for fatally shooting Hollywood police Officer Yandy Chirino in October 2021.
Now, a jury is deciding whether he’ll be executed or get life in prison. The defense team needs to convince at least five of the 12 jurors that Banegas deserves to live.
Chirino was just 28 years old when he was killed while responding to a call about a suspicious person in the 4000 block of North Hills Drive.
Ring camera footage shows Banegas, then 18, on his bike, checking for unlocked car doors.
Police say Banegas shot Chirino twice in the face while resisting arrest, killing him.
Castillo testified that she charges $250 an hour and worked 122 hours on the case for the defense, meaning she made $30,500 on the Banegas case, in which she also spoke with Banegas’ mother, sisters, grandfather, a former juvenile detention counselor, a neighbor, and a former family friend.
She said she also reviewed his school, health and Department of Children and Family records.
Testimony is expected to resume Thursday afternoon following a lunch break.
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