Doc: Accused Perrego has a disorder

WILKES-BARRE – William Perrego was a bomb with a short fuse.

A doctor on Tuesday said Perrego suffers from intermittent explosive disorder, making him easily agitated by minor things and unable to resist reacting with violence – in a hurry.

“Bad things can happen, and it did,” Fischbein said. “You just lose it and you start pounding.”

The volatile combination is what likely led to Perrego lashing out and beating Lewis Jones to death after Jones accused Perrego of stealing whiskey, Fischbein said.

Because of that, Perrego should not be found guilty of first-degree murder, and perhaps cleared of all murder charges, his attorney, Mark Bufalino, indicated.

Fischbein’s testimony came on behalf of Perrego at his non-jury trial on a homicide charge.

He was the only defense witness to testify after Luzerne County prosecutors Jeff Tokach and Dan Zola finished their case. Perrego’s attorneys, Bufalino and Paul Galante, might call an additional witness this morning before ending their case.

Court of Common Pleas Judge Michael Toole will then render a verdict sometime after that.

Police said Perrego and Jones were arguing about a bottle of whiskey inside Peter McGinnis’ East North Street home in Wilkes-Barre before Perrego, 30, started beating Jones, 42, early March 14, 2007.

Jones was punched and kicked so hard, his brain twisted, tearing open blood vessels in his head, Dr. Gary Ross testified. The brain injury was one of many wounds Jones suffered in the attacks, according to Ross, a forensic pathologist who performed Jones’ autopsy.

Ross said Jones had multiple abrasions and contusions to his face and head, broken ribs and a ruptured left eyeball. He died of multiple traumatic injuries due to physical assault, Ross said.

But Perrego can’t remember specifics of the event, Fischbein said. He interviewed Perrego after he was arrested.

Perrego talked about his background -- how he was physically and sexually abused in his youth, grew up in a violent atmosphere, became violent himself and was placed on medications, including a tranquilizer, Fischbein said.