A 29-year-old man on trial on a murder charge suffered severe mental illness that caused him to hear voices -- including the voice of a homicidal doll featured in the "Chucky" horror movies -- that led him to beat his lover to death, a psychologist who interviewed him testified Thursday.

Michael Manuel Herrera is charged with murder in the July 6, 2009, death of Cesar Raul Torres, 39, at Torres' Downtown El Paso apartment. Herrera was arrested at a homeless shelter a few days later and has been jailed since in lieu of posting $100,000 bond.

After a full day of testimony by psychologist Carmen Petzold on Thursday, jurors were told Herrera suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Since 2001, Herrera was treated at several mental health treatment facilities and tried to commit suicide many times, including at least once after Torres' death.

Petzold, who was called to the stand by the defense, testified she interviewed Herrera at least three times. Petzold said that after the interviews and examining his medical records, she discovered that Herrera had taken several psychiatric medications and had a history of drug and alcohol abuse.

According to Petzold, Herrera told her that before Torres' death, he had been using drugs and drinking in Juárez, and returned to El Paso to stay with Torres and get high again.

Once at Torres' apartment, the two men began smoking marijuana and drinking. Petzold said Herrera told her that as the two were being intimate, Torres forcefully grabbed Herrera's genitals, and Herrera perceived the act as a threat. He then began beating Torres.


Petzold testified Herrera told her he began hallucinating and heard the voice of Chucky telling him to hurt Torres.

After Petzold's testimony, defense attorneys rested their case. However, prosecutors called psychologist Timothy Proctor to the stand as a rebuttal witness. Proctor testified that Herrera may have been feigning or exaggerating symptoms of mental illness, but there's not enough evidence to confirm that he was feigning, according to tests Proctor administered to Herrera.

Proctor also testified Herrera admitted that he knew what he did to Torres was wrong.

If convicted of murder, Herrera faces five to 99 years in prison. Herrera's trial is taking place in the 168th District Court before Judge Marcos Lizarraga.
