(no subject)
PANAMA CITY, Florida (AP) - A judge dropped aggravated-assault and burglary charges against a man who chased a woman with a dagger after three psychologists agreed the episode was provoked by jasmine tea.
Gilbert Walker, 43, was drinking up to 10 cups of jasmine tea daily and had been dreaming of biblical struggles between good and evil before the Dec. 3 incident, defence lawyer Mike Hunter said. On the night Walker burst into his neighbour's home, he had hallucinated that a set of ceramic Chinese dogs were barking or talking.
"He says he's trying to keep these ceramic dogs from barking when he hears this crash," Hunter said.
"He figures he's broken one of the dogs."
The crash was apparently the sound made after Walker threw a brass duck through his neighbour's glass door. He chased the woman out of her house, and police said they found him, wild-eyed, outside the home shouting: "I'm crazy."
Hunter said he contacted forensic toxicologist Dr. Susan Rice, who told him certain jasmines can be hallucinogenic. The herb is commonly taken to calm the stomach, which is why Walker was drinking it, Hunter said.
Judge Michael Overstreet dismissed the charges Wednesday after receiving reports from three court-appointed psychologists who agreed Walker suffered from psychosis induced by jasmine tea.
Assistant state attorney Mark Graham said because of the psychologists' findings he did not object to dismissing the charges. One doctor wrote the psychotic episode was isolated and Walker should have no lasting problems.
Walker, a software designer and engineer for a government contractor, declined comment.
somebody hook me up with some tea.