Aaron ThomasMANASSAS, Va. (AP)- Lawyers for the man accused by authorities as the East Coast Rapist responsible for 17 sexual assaults over the span of a decade want to enter an insanity plea, but their client is making it difficult.
In a court motion, attorneys for Aaron Thomas gave notice of insanity defense plans. But Thomas is refusing to meet with mental health evaluators, and prosecutors say he cannot plead insanity unless he does so.
A hearing is scheduled for Friday. An earlier evaluation concluded Thomas was feigning symptoms of mental illness. But defense attorneys say Thomas is mutilating himself and hallucinating.
Thomas is accused in Prince William County of raping two teenagers in 2009. Authorities believe he also attacked women in three other states.
