Psychologist’s testimony: Ellen Wink feared Kurt Lametta before she shot and killed him
Dr. Jessica Pearson took the stand on the eighth day of Wink’s murder trial at Stamford Superior Court to support the defense’s claims that Wink was suffering from extreme emotional distress or mental illness.
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Ellen Wink, the former Norwalk official charged with murder in her tenant’s death, experienced symptoms of a mental health condition called an adjustment disorder in the lead-up to the deadly shooting on Jan. 20, 2022, a forensic psychologist testified Monday afternoon.
Dr. Jessica Pearson took the stand on the eighth day of Wink’s murder trial at Stamford Superior Court to support the defense’s claims that Wink was suffering from extreme emotional distress or mental illness when she pulled the trigger and killed Kurt Lametta inside 16 Nelson Ave.
“When someone has an adjustment disorder, there is an identifiable stressor that leads to impairment symptoms and impairment in some aspect of functioning, and here, Ms. Wink was having symptoms that were outside of her norm,” Pearson told the jury, explaining that Wink’s ongoing attempts to get Lametta to move out, was the stressor. “Those symptoms include anxiety, fear, anger, frustration, despair, hopelessness, helplessness.”
Pearson said her opinions were based on her evaluation of Wink, which took place this year, along with a review of the evidence in the case and independent interviews with people who know Wink. They included another tenant—who said Lametta threatened Wink—her boyfriend at the time, family members and a mental health provider, Pearson testified.
Pearson stated Wink was afraid of Lametta and had been warned by other people to be careful around him. Seconds before the shooting, Wink saw Lametta move, thought he had a weapon and feared for her life, Pearson said Wink told her. The defense has also claimed the shooting was self-defense.
On cross-examination, the prosecution tried to dismiss Pearson’s opinion that Wink was afraid of Lametta. Assistant State’s Attorney Margaret Moscati went through the prior incidents between them that police responded, as well as the shooting—pointing out Wink never mentioned her fear to a single officer.
Pearson countered that she told the 911 operator that Lametta came at her. Pearson’s testimony is expected to continue Tuesday morning.
Before she took the stand, the defense called several Norwalk police officers to the stand, a majority of whom testified during the state’s case. The morning began with Detective John Sura, the lead investigator on the case, who called Wink’s admission to the first officers on scene that she shot Lametta five times “a spontaneous utterance.”
“She said it without provocation,” Sura explained.
"Does the spontaneous utterance have anything to do with the stress someone's laboring at the time they make such a statement?” asked defense attorney Stephan Seeger.
"I don't know why somebody would make that. I don't know what their mindset would be,” Sura said.
Seeger also questioned Sura about how he referred to Wink after the shooting when he debriefed the sergeant who was waiting to process the scene. The conversation was recorded on a police body camera.
“I believe I said, ‘She is like insane,’” responded Sura.
Seeger also brought up Sura’s characterization of Lametta in that conversation.
“You called the victim a real piece of [expletive], didn't you?” Seeger questioned.
"I did refer to him like that, yes," Sura replied.
“Why did you refer to Mr. Lametta as a piece of [expletive] at the time of your debriefing with Sgt. Tolnay?” continued Seeger.
"Because I believe it was used to describe some of his past criminal behavior in the city of Norwalk,” Sura said.
The prosecution, which rested Friday afternoon, put forth seven days of evidence alleging the fatal shooting was the culmination of Wink’s repeated unsuccessful attempts to get Lametta to leave, culminating in Wink taking matters into her own hands with deadly action. Police were called to 16 Nelson Ave. multiple times by Lametta including on Sept. 18, 2021, when Wink was arrested after police said she threw out Lametta’s belongings and changed the locks. Wink was warned by police to follow the proper eviction protocols and not to have any contact with Lametta.
The prosecution’s case also included text messages between Wink and Lametta and Wink’s web history, which included about two dozen searches and site visits regarding guns and ammunition in the days before the fatal shooting. One of the pages was an article titled, “Bang: 5 Most Deadly Bullets on the Planet.”
Lametta was secretly recording on his cellphone during what became his final encounter with Wink and ended up capturing his own death. That video has been played several times during the trial.
“That's ridiculous. Every day you're going to come in and throw people's stuff away?” Lametta said on the video seconds before two shots rang out.
“You, bastard!” Wink stated, then fired three more times.
Lametta appeared to fall to the ground, dropping his phone. The video temporarily went black but recorded Wink shouting obscenities at Lametta and repeatedly yelling at him to, “Get out!” A few seconds later, Wink picked up Lametta’s phone and left, appearing to toss the phone in a shrub next to the house.
The jury is supposed to get the case some time this week, but the judge said Monday they are behind where both sides expected to be at this point. Seeger said he may rest Tuesday but prosecutors have already alerted the court that they intend to call at least one rebuttal witness.
MORE COVERAGE: Jury sees footage of prior incident between Ellen Wink and tenant she fatally shot 4 months later
Jury sees still images of Norwalk landlord pointing gun at tenant on Day 5 of murder trial
Jury hears 911 call Ellen Wink made after shooting tenant
The trial of Ellen Wink: Landlord, ex-Norwalk official accused of killing tenant
