Man pleads guilty in hammer attack on girl

<p>A man's rambling statement in court led to his attorney retracting a guilty plea he made earlier Friday for attacking a fourth-grade student with a hammer at an elementary school in Gwinnett County three years ago.</p><p>Chad Brant Hagaman's testimony was marked by psychotic interludes as he told a Superior Court judge that he had done wrong and had to pay the price. He said he was prepared to die the day he attacked the girl, and also said he still hears voices in his head.</p><p>The judge called a 10-minute recess to have the defense's forensic neuropsychiatrist, Dr. Thomas Sachy, examine Hagaman. When the hearing resumed, Hagaman's attorney told the judge he had no other alternative but to withdraw his guilty plea.</p><p>Hagaman told the judge he has been admitted to mental institutions five times and diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic.</p><p>A competency hearing will be scheduled for further evaluation.</p><p>The prosecution has recommended 50 years in confinement, including 30 years in prison, for Hagaman, who's charged with aggravated battery, cruelty to children and carrying weapons on school property.</p><p>According to police, Elisabeth Leake was waiting in a line at Mountain Park Elementary School in February 2002 when Hagaman came up behind her and struck her in the back of the head with a hammer.</p><p>The head of the hammer became imbedded in the girl's skull. Elisabeth recovered from the attack, but her family says she still suffers memory problems.</p><p>The girl's parents also have filed a lawsuit against the Gwinnett County school system and staff members at the elementary school. The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, claims security at the school was inadequate to protect their daughter.</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/2/151716