HAMILTON -- A Hamilton man has been found not criminally responsible for fatally strangling his cellmate in jail.

George Veerman, 52, was acquitted Monday of second-degree murder in the death of 58-year-old Eugene Koperniak on Oct. 19, 2004.

A psychiatrist testified Veerman had a serious psychotic disorder when he attacked Koperniak.

A forensic psychiatrist testified that Veerman had a long history of schizophrenia and didn't understand that his conduct was wrong when he strangled Koperniak with a towel.

Dr. Gary Chaimowitz said the disorder is treatable and that Veerman had shown some improvement during his 2 1/2 years awaiting his trial.

now why wouldnt he have been put in a cell by himself in a mental health facility ?

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A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world.
~ Leo Buscaglia

Not all prisons have "psyche wards" though some do or units devoted solely to those who suffer from diagnosed mental disorders that require ongoing treatment. In other words, not just those that play the "mental illness card" in order to have their sentences reduced. With the current overcrowding in US prisons, more and more are being forced to take on the role of mental health care provider in addition to penitentiary which was never the intended application or position for prisons to be in. This man should have been single celled, on his meds and separated from GP. But that means the prison needed to accept that responsibility and have qualified medical staff available that was able to prescribe meds for the inmates to begin with. I have seen prisons on TV that are able to do this but I imagine not all are capable.

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"Thats it then, they will go on double, secret, probation..."

I agree and what a shame

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A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world.
~ Leo Buscaglia