Widely Prescribed Drug Suspected in Murder Case

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http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=5001531 Posted by: Dennis Widely Prescribed Drug Suspected in Murder Case June 7, 2006 04:18 PM & lt;script & gt;if (document.layers) {document.write(' & lt;SCR' + 'IPT language=JavaScript1.1 SRC=/Global/ad.asp?type=single & amp;cls1=News & amp;src1=loc & amp;spct1=100 & amp;sz1=wnsz_20 & amp;callType=script / & gt;'); document.close();} & lt;/script & gt; Hernando, Miss - What caused a young man to murder his father in DeSoto last

week? Investigators are still looking into it, but the man's attorney says he may have an answer... and it's one that might have nationwide significance. Jim s thinks he's onto something. It happened when he got the case of 25 year old Clint Nolan, accused in the shooting death of his father. "The father talked to the police and told them Clint had shot him." s explained. Nolan has a form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome... and there was something interesting about his treatment. What sparked the attorney's interest in what happened here? s noted Clint Nolan had been taking the same drug as another of his clients. is accused in the death of a fellow Ole Miss student. Both he and Nolan had been taking the drug,

"Klonopin". He thinks there's a connection, because his research has turned up other cases around the country. "It may just be a coincidence, but if it's a coincidence, it's quite a coincidence." said s. True, but making it a defense in Nolan's case is another story. "Under Mississippi law, being on drugs is not a defense to a crime." said District Attorney Champion. The prosecutor says the suspects mental state is more important. Dr. Vickie Brewer, Director of Neuropsychology at LeBonehur says Klonopin has been widely used since 1975. It's normally used as a sedative, but in rare cases it can show some serious side effects. The manufacturers own literature backs that up. But s wonders, with so much anecdotal evidence, if the drug

might need a serious review. "We've had other medications that have been taken off the market. I feel like the FDA should look into this as well." said s. THAT remains to be seen. Meantime, s continues his research which he says might someday result in a class-action suit to force changes or removal of the drug until it's proven safe. __________________________________________________