Doctor: Gaime's memory weak

A psychiatrist says Kristina Gaime has suffered severe memory loss but made no judgment on her ability to stand trial.

By CHASE SQUIRES

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 21, 2000

DADE CITY -- A doctor who examined Kristina Gaime as she awaits her murder trial told a prosecutor this month that she suffers from "quite severe" memory loss, probably from a blow to the head, according to court files.

In the first medically related deposition to become public in the case, psychiatrist Irving B. Weiner told prosecutor Phil Van Allen on March 6 that tests show Gaime, 35, has an average intelligence but very poor memory. He said he made no judgments about her ability to stand trial.

It has been her attorneys' contention that if she can't recall the events surrounding the death of her son, she can't assist in her own defense, and therefore would be unfit for trial.

Defense attorney Angelo Ferlita said Monday Weiner's findings bolster the defense team's position.

Gaime is charged with first-degree murder in the April 1999 death of her 6-year-old son, Mathew Rotell, and the attempted murder of her 8-year-old son, Adam Rotell, at their Land O'Lakes home. According to investigators, Gaime drugged the boys and put them in the family minivan with the exhaust directed into the passenger cabin.

Gaime's parents found Mathew dead inside the van, but Adam and Gaime were found alive inside the home.

Gaime has been held without bail at the Pasco County jail in Land O'Lakes since May.

Weiner told Van Allen he was asked by Gaime's defense team to examine her last year and look into the possibility that she suffered amnesia and post-concussion syndrome. He said he found evidence of brain damage or dysfunction.

Weiner said he used the Rorschach personality test -- a process where subjects interpret abstract designs -- as a way to study Gaime, in addition to other tests. She has an IQ in the 48th percentile -- just below average -- but scored very low on memory tests. In one test, records show, she scored in the bottom 1 percentile.

"The kind of impairment I saw in 1999 was quite severe," Weiner said.

"She showed a sharp discrepancy between her general verbal skills, ability to use language and her general comprehension of what social situations mean," he said.

Prosecutors had a deposition of another doctor, Walter Afield, set for last week and have interviews with Dr. Daniel Sprehe set for Wednesday and Dr. Arturo Gonzalez scheduled for May 9.

A hearing on Gaime's ability to stand trial is scheduled for April 5.

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