Washington:

An Indian-American radiologist who drove his household off the cliff had a ‘psychotic breakdown’ and believed his kids have been prone to being intercourse trafficked, a psychologist testified concerning the case, based on San Francisco Chronicle.

The radiologist, Dharmesh Patel, drove the Tesla carrying his spouse and two kids off a San Mareo County cliff, ensuing within the crash that occurred final January.

The knowledgeable witness known as by Patel’s legal professionals, Dr Mark Patterson, in his testimony on Wednesday this week mentioned that he had met Patel many occasions for the reason that January 2, 2023 crash.

He mentioned that he had identified him with main depressive dysfunction with a single episode of psychotic options and anxious misery, based on San Francisco Chronicle.

“Patel had been listening to footsteps and thought he was being adopted within the weeks earlier than the crash,” Patterson mentioned.

“It was paranoid and sort of delusional considering that he acted on on the time to guard his household from a worse destiny,” he advised the courtroom, including that “He was involved that his kids have been prone to being kidnapped, probably for sexual molestation.”

Patel has been charged by prosecutors with three counts of tried homicide, alleging he deliberately drove his white 2021 Tesla Mannequin Y off a cliff.

Patel, who has pleaded not responsible, is, presently, trying to qualify for psychological well being therapy in lieu of jail time as a part of a 2018 diversion legislation that was expanded final yr.

Patel, who drove his Tesla off with Neha and their two kids within the automobile was 41 on the time of the crash, their 7-year-old suffered severe accidents, whereas their 4-year-old escaped largely bodily unhurt.

Citing the search warrant information, San Francisco Chronicle reported that Neha Patel advised rescuers repeatedly that her husband deliberately drove off the cliff to kill the household. She additionally mentioned that he had a psychological well being disturbance happening.

Nevertheless, Patel, in his assertion advised CHP officers he had not been on any remedy or below the affect of medication or alcohol on the time of the crash.

(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is printed from a syndicated feed.)