A sightless, mentally ill Brighton man was committed to a secure psychiatric facility today after a judge agreed with prosecution and defense experts that he was not criminally responsible for the fatal stabbing of 56-year-old Terri Werner, a teacher he knew through a local school for the blind.

Suffolk Superior Court Judge Geraldine Hines ordered LUIS MARQUEZ (D.O.B. 9/15/81) to a 40-day observation period at Bridgewater State Hospital after finding him not criminally responsible on a single count of second-degree murder. The charge arose out of Werner’s June 10, 2008, homicide inside Marquez’ Nonantum Street apartment. Prosecutors expect to seek his continued commitment to Bridgewater at a Sept. 16 status date.

Hines delivered her verdict after a three-day jury-waived trial, calling it “the saddest case I’ve heard in my 10 years on the bench.” During those proceedings, Marquez’ attorney did not challenge the evidence that Marquez knew Werner through the Perkins School for the Blind, where she was a teacher; that Werner visited Marquez frequently, including that afternoon, and that he was emotionally attached to her; or that he beat and stabbed her, killing her.

A mental health expert retained by prosecutors evaluated Marquez and diagnosed him as having bipolar disorder with psychotic features. One defense expert reached the same conclusion, while a second defense expert diagnosed him as having a psychotic disorder. All three concurred that he was in a psychotic state at the time he killed Werner, and that due to his mental illness he could not conform his actions to the law and lacked the capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions.

Prosecutors were not surprised by the outcome given the experts’ unanimity. Without a trial, however, Marquez could have been released with no supervision. Prosecutors believe he and the public are best served by his continued placement at Bridgewater – a secure and supervised facility.

After the verdict, Marquez did not object to the presentation of a victim impact statement by Werner’s wife – whom Marquez in the past had referred to as “Auntie” – even though such statements are usually reserved for prosecutions ending in a conviction.

“Terri was an amazing woman, full of love,” she said. “She just gave and gave to people – she did all her life …. Losing Terri was losing a life I treasured. She’s with me spiritually all the time, but she’s not here.”

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Hickman prosecuted the case. Kara Hayes was the assigned victim-witness advocate. Marquez was represented by attorney Randall Power.