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XEROX SHOOTINGS TRIAL

By Ronen Zilberman, Associated Press
Dr. Michael Welner, a psychiatrist, shows jurors in the Xerox Corp.
shooting trial yesterday a diagram of the scene where seven
workers were shot to death last November. Welner said the
shooter, Byran Uyesugi, sketched the diagram for him
during a psychiatric evaluation.

Judge’s leave
to delay trial
for one week

The Uyesugi trial is slated
to resume June 13 when attorneys
are expected to present
closing arguments

By Suzanne Tswei
Star-Bulletin

Although attorneys have finished presenting experts and witnesses, the jurors who will decide whether Byran Uyesugi was legally insane at the time he shot and killed seven Xerox employees last November will have to wait a week before hearing final arguments.

The jurors were scheduled to receive their instructions today before taking next week off from the trial while presiding Judge Marie Milks takes a scheduled leave.

The trial is scheduled to resume June 13 when attorneys are expected to present closing arguments. The jurors will begin deliberations after hearing the arguments.

Neither the defense nor the prosecution is objecting to the weeklong delay in the trial. Lead defense attorney Jerel Fonseca said he was not concerned about the delay and believed it will not adversely affect his client. City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle declined comment.

Yesterday, New York City psychiatrist Michael Welner, testifying for the prosecution, told jurors that Uyesugi suffered from schizophrenia but his "psychiatric condition was irrelevant" to his killing seven co-workers.

Despite his "serious mental illness," Welner said, "Byran Uyesugi knew what he was doing was wrong, and he simply did not care." Uyesugi's actions before, during and after the multiple murders indicated he was in control of his actions, which he recognized to be wrong, Welner said.

Uyesugi told Welner he had "butterflies in his stomach" as he hid by the water cooler on the second floor of the Xerox building while he contemplated whether he should go ahead with the shooting, Welner said. Uyesugi described the multiple murder as "not something I do every day," Welner said.

The multiple murder was carried out "in an economical, calm execution style," Welner said.

"This mass killing was focused and specific, carried out with precision and economy," he said, noting that Uyesugi was particular in targeting his victims.

The first person he killed -- with a single bullet to the back of the head -- was Ron Kawamae, whom Uyesugi believed was leading his co-workers against him.

Uyesugi "was able to stop his attack on a dime," Welner said, when he decided not to pursue Steve Matsuda, who fled out the front door. Welner said Uyesugi chose not to follow Matsuda outside because he would be exposed Instead, Uyesugi left through a back door.

Welner was the last of 11 mental health experts to testify in the trial. Unlike the earlier experts, Welner said Uyesugi's delusions did not include all his victims. Instead he only had delusions about one co-worker, Jason Balatico, believing Balatico was an FBI agent who mutilated his fish, Welner said.

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Xerox killings