BANGOR, Maine — A local woman accused of stabbing her boyfriend in the chest pleaded not guilty to murder Tuesday afternoon at the Penobscot Judicial Center.
Gail Judd, 53, of Bangor was indicted March 28 by the Penobscot County grand jury for intentional or knowing murder.
Judd’s attorney, Jeffrey Silverstein of Bangor, entered the plea on her behalf. He also reserved the right to change the plea to not guilty by reason of insanity once a psychiatric evaluation has been completed.
On Tuesday, Superior Court Justice William Anderson ordered that Judd continue to be held without bail at the Penobscot County Jail, where she has been since her arrest. She could request through Silverstein a bail hearing at any time, Anderson told her.
Dressed in a white sweater and teal-colored slacks, her legs shackled, Judd stood silently by Silverstein during the brief hearing.
Last month, Anderson ordered that she undergo a psychological evaluation to determine whether there are other mental health issues that might affect her defense and to determine her competency to stand trial.
Judd allegedly stabbed Michael Drouin, 47, of Bangor on Feb. 22 in her Court Street apartment. She was charged with murder on Feb. 24.
Drouin was found dead at about 9:40 p.m. Feb. 22 on the bedroom floor of Judd’s apartment at 67 Court St. in Bangor, according to a police affidavit. He was shirtless, wearing boxer shorts with his pants around his ankles. A knife, which appeared to have blood on the blade, was found in the kitchen sink, the affidavit said. Judd also appeared to have blood on her hands.
She told neighbors she stabbed Drouin in self-defense after he raped her, according to the affidavit filed after her arrest.
Drouin died as a result of a “stabbing-type wound that penetrated his upper chest area to a depth of approximately two to two and one-half inches and resulted in significant internal bleeding,” the affidavit said.
The sentence for murder in Maine is 25 years to life in prison.
If convicted, Judd would be the second member of her family to be imprisoned for murder. Her brother Jeffrey Cookson, 47, formerly of Guilford, is serving two consecutive life sentences for the 199 execution-style shooting of his ex-girlfriend and the 21-month-old boy she was baby-sitting.
It’s perfectly clear to me by what I have read in several BDN articles that this woman, over the course of her life, and by the choices she has made for herself, has developed sever psychiatric issues.
With that being said, killing someone under any circumstances is inexcusable. Not being held responsible for the state of your sanity after committing such crime should in itself be reason enough for such a person to be punished.
Silverstein himself is incriminating the defendant by not having her psychiatric evaluation completed before entering plea. Conveniently giving yourself the “not guilty by criminal insanity” double option shows his own lack of confidence with his case.
If I were the DA I would mash my feet on the accelerator.
I’d want to know a bit about this man. I know if I went towards my husband with a knife, he would have it out of my hand before it even came close to him, pants down around his ankles or up. I can’t imagine being able to get a blind angle in and accomplish this, face on. I’m thinking just to take the risk of taking a man on, with a knife face to face, that is insanity. Unless her body when taken into custody showed definate marks of abuse by the deceased. No where have I read that she stated she pulled the knife fighting for her life. Mental illness is a killer in so, so many ways. Our politicians must realize that when cuts are made here, that these people show up in prisons, homeless shelters and possibly ones doorstep.
Sounds like a turbulent relationship. She probably grabbed a knife and he said “I dare you.” Who knows………………
I didn’t think of that, so true. This allergy season, I’m clearly not focused. Working in and around this field, he probably did see it coming.
so true about mental illness.
I have a close family member that has severe mental issues. They dont know that they have a problem. I cant blue paper them, as they do not threaten their life.
I know that a dark day is coming. It is just a matter of time.
It is very sad to watch and be invovlved in.
On the other hand, Mental Illness is used and abused.
Its the easy way out for some people.
If Bar Harbor Batman was there, this wouldn’t have happened.
BDN, last sentence, “199” is probably supposed to be “1999”.
The six commentators before, comments are for the articles, not your reaction to the pictures.
This isn’t pre-K, folks.
And who are you??????????/
They can post what they want, sorry bud….
I can’t believe that that mug shot is the same woman in court. See what being off drugs will do for you….
I like the mugshot better. Shows what she is really like.