A northern New Jersey man accused of stabbing and beating his mother to death has been found not guilty by reason of insanity.
The Record reports the ruling was issued by a judge following a 90-minute bench trial Tuesday in the case of 25-year-old Nicholas Piotti. The Ho-Ho-Kus man was charged in the death of his 63-year-old mother, Karen, who suffered multiple stab wounds and beating trauma in the September 2014 attack.
Prosecutors say Piotti had been suffering from escalating psychological problems and was in somewhat of a comatose state when police arrived. Authorities say Piotti told them a bad man's voice told him to kill his mother.
An attorney for Piotti says the family is relieved that the legal proceedings are over and the healing process can start.
