Jul 10, 2008 7:55 am US/Eastern
Attorney Says Sen. Marzilli Has Bi-Polar Condition
Marzilli Pleads Not Guilty To New Assault Charges
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Marzilli in court on June 3.
WBZ
The attorney for State Senator Jim Marzilli (D-Arlington) says his client has been diagnosed with "a bi-polar condition," a mental disorder that can cause dramatic mood swings.
Terrence Kennedy told reporters he doesn't know when Marzilli received the diagnosis, or if Marzilli is on medication or under psychiatric care. He declined to say if it would be part of his client's defense.
Kennedy's comments came after Marzilli pleaded not guilty to charges, which include attempt to commit a crime (indecent assault and battery), disorderly conduct, and four counts of accosting a person of the opposite sex.
The charges stem from complaints from four women in downtown Lowell on June 3. The women told police Marzilli approached them and made lewd comments. Some say he followed them. One says he attempted to grab her in a sexual manner. Another says she was so upset by his comments that she collapsed on a city bus.
One of Marzilli's alleged victims who wanted to remain anonymous spoke to WBZ's Christina Hager Wednesday night.
The 59-year-old Lowell woman says she spotted him watching her as she was waiting for a bus.
"He looked like he was talking on a phone, a cell phone. But he kept looking over...Next thing I know, he came around the corner. He said, 'Hello,' so I said 'Hello', being friendly. And he walked a little further up and he says to me, 'You, do you have any underwear under those clothes?' And I turned around and I called him a dirty pervert."
She said she would be willing to testify against him in court if necessary.
According to court documents, police have photos of Marzilli's car in the area and surveillance video of him from a building he allegedly tried to enter in pursuit of one of the women.
Marzilli is free on $1,500 bail on the condition he return to Lowell only for court and not contact any of the complainants.
Last month, Marzilli checked himself into Mclean Hospital, a psychiatric facility.
He also said he would not seek re-election and turned constituent services over to his staff. But he has not resigned, which means he remains on the state's payroll to the tune of $58,000. State Republicans have started a web site taking issue with this point.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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