Blake defense closes with psychologist’s testimony

Erica D. Johnson

Friday, March 26, 2004 | 8:55 a.m.

Attorneys for Alf onso "Slinkey" Blake wrapped up their defense on Thursday with testimony from a psychologist who claimed the aspiring R&B singer was temporarily insane when he shot three women, killing two.

Louis Mortillaro, a licensed psychologist, said Blake was likely delusional when he killed Sophear Choy, 19, and Priscilla Van Dine, 22, and attempted to kill Kim Choy, 23 in a desert area in southwest Las Vegas on March 5, 2003.

"He appeared to have a compromised mental state at the time of the offense," Mortillaro said. "In layman's terms, it's like someone snaps."

Mortillaro based his conclusion on the results of a battery of psychological tests he performed on Blake, as well as interviews with several of Blake's family members.

He said Blake's borderline personality disorder, paired with the stress of being stabbed during a confrontation with one of the victims, could have resulted in psychosis.

"He would have difficulty knowing right from wrong and thinking logically," Mortillaro said.

The psychologist's testimony wrapped up Blake's three-day capital murder trial before District Judge Sally Loehrer. Closing arguments were expected to begin this morning. Blake faces the death penalty if convicted.

Prosecutors say Blake became angry when the victims reneged on an agreement to rent out rooms in his house and shot them "execution-style" in a desert area near Lone Grove Road and Decatur Boulevard.

Kim Choy survived the shooting and in testimony earlier this week identified Blake as the triggerman.

Jinah Chung, Blake's former girlfriend, said Wednesday that she saw Blake lead the women into the desert the night of the slayings. She said she fled with Blake to California, where he confessed the killings to her.

On Thursday Mortillaro said Blake told him he did not remember much about the slayings other than "fearing for his own safety."

Blake also said that at on the night of the killings, he was afraid that "friends of the victims would've arrived at the scene and killed him and his loved ones," Mortillaro said.

"His behavior at the time of this incident was not likely premeditated," Mortillaro concluded.

But during cross-examination, Chief Deputy District Attorney Robert Daskas presented Mortillaro with information the doctor said he was not aware of when he diagnosed Blake.

One such detail was Blake's extensive criminal history, which includes a slew of batteries and other crimes. Blake's penchant for violence dates back to 1988, Daskas said, when he hit a man with a baseball bat and broke his nose.

In 1988 Blake was driving down Eastern Avenue when he got into a confrontation with female driver. "He got out of his car and punched her twice in the face," Daskas said.

And in 1989, Daskas said, Blake had an altercation with a man and stabbed him twice. In 1992 Blake punched his ex-girlfriend in the face and threatened to kill her, Daskas said.

Jurors also heard from Blake's sister, Arlene Oliver, a defense witness. Blake went to Oliver's home directly following the shootings.

"He appeared to be a little upset, off-balance," Oliver said. "He appeared afraid, like someone was after him."

Oliver said she could immediately tell her brother was hurt.

"When I saw him he was holding his side, he was staggering," she said. "I had no idea about the shootings."

Chung, who worked as a stripper, said Wednesday that she lived in Blake's house with two other Asian women who also worked as strippers. She said the women gave their earnings to Blake, who controlled their money and their whereabouts.

The night of the slayings, Chung said, Blake got into an argument with the women at an intersection near Blake's home. She said Blake began strangling Sophear Choy and banging her head against a nearby sport utility vehicle. It was then that a knife fight ensued, she said.

Chung said Blake instructed her and his two other roommates to leave the area as he led the victims into the desert.

Chung said she fled with Blake to California, but she was not aware that a shooting had taken place.