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State Wants Gag Order In Parade Case, Psychologist Says Chambers Unfit For Trial

The scene at the intersection of Main Street and Hall of Fame Ave. in Stillwater following Saturday's car crash into the parade.
Geoff Eaton
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The scene at the intersection of Main Street and Hall of Fame Ave. in Stillwater following the October 24 car crash into the parade.

Prosecutors are asking for a gag order in the case of the Stillwater woman charged with second-degree murder in the deaths of four people at Oklahoma State University's homecoming parade last month.

Defense lawyers started to present their case to the public the day after Adacia Chambers’ arrest. Attorney Tony Coleman held a press conference the night after the car crash, and told reporters about his client’s mental health history and mindset at the time of the incident.

“Counsel also provides a timeline as to the facts, some of which are not supported by the evidence in possession of the state,” the motion said in reference to a KFOR-TV story about clues found inside Chambers’ vehicle in the aftermath.

The motion filed Wednesday says a Google search for "Adacia Chambers" yields nearly 1.8 million results. An Oklahoma City television news anchor wrote to Chambers requesting an interview and offering to "act as your voice to the public."

It also says family members describing Chambers' previous treatment at a mental health facility could hurt any future evidence gathering, taint the jury pool, and lead the defense to request a change of venue when the trial takes place.

“The comments released in this matter have already gone far in excess of revealing what a reasonable lawyer would believe is required to protect a client from the substantial undue prejudicial effect of recent publicity, most of which was initiated by counsel and family of the defendant,” the motion says.

Prosecutors argue the order is necessary to protect the fact-finding process and a fair and impartial trial.

Psychologist Says Chambers Not Sound Enough For Trial

A forensic psychologist who examined Chambers two days after the car crash says she’s “acutely psychotic” and in need of immediate treatment.

A letter from Dr. Shawn Roberson to Coleman obtained by The Oklahoman says Chambers delivered nonsensical answers to questions about why she was incarcerated, and didn’t seem to understand whether or not she’d committed a crime.

Roberson also says he doesn’t think Chambers can adequately assist with her defense, and couldn’t even name the attorney representing her in court.

Roberson said he believed Chambers was suffering from a manic episode typical of Bipolar I Disorder during their meeting, and said he felt she was at significant risk to harm herself or others without further inpatient psychiatric treatment.

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Brian Hardzinski is from Flower Mound, Texas and a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He began his career at KGOU as a student intern, joining KGOU full time in 2009 as Operations and Public Service Announcement Director. He began regularly hosting Morning Edition in 2014, and became the station's first Digital News Editor in 2015-16. Brian’s work at KGOU has been honored by Public Radio News Directors Incorporated (PRNDI), the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters, the Oklahoma Associated Press Broadcasters, and local and regional chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists. Brian enjoys competing in triathlons, distance running, playing tennis, and entertaining his rambunctious Boston Terrier, Bucky.
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