Prosecution witness says Schaffhausen sane

A psychiatrist who evaluated a man accused of killing his three daughters testified the father was mentally aware of his criminal actions.

Dr. Erik Knudson testified Monday as the sanity trial for Aaron Schaffhausen entered its third week in St. Croix County Circuit Court. Knudson, testifying for the prosecution, said that after Schaffhausen killed the girls, he drove around aimlessly, discarding items from his car that could possibly connect him to the crime. KSTP-TV reports the psychiatrist says Schaffhausen’s action shows he was “capable of conforming his conduct.”

Schaffhausen has pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree intentional homicide, but he maintains he’s not responsible for killing 11-year-old Amara, 8-year-old Sophie, and 5-year-old Cecilia because of a mental illness. Jurors will determine his sanity.