A Virginia man who stabbed to death a stranger whom he thought was a werewolf, has now been told that he needs to stay off social media.
Pankaj Bhasin was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2019 after stabbing a store manager more than 50 times because Bhasin thought the man was a werewolf, WRC reported.
Bhasin used the defense that he was having a psychotic breakdown when the attack happened, WTTG reported.
He was committed and served three years in a mental health facility. But he has since been granted conditional release and is required to take medication, wear a GPS monitor and get home visits from mental health workers, WRC reported.
Recently, however, prosecutors have raised concerns about Bhasin’s Facebook dating profile in which they say he misrepresented what happened.
A screenshot of Bhasin’s profile shows his description of himself as “an easy going adventurer who believes in universal connection.” He also is accused of writing that he is “recently getting back from two years of travel,” WRC reported.
A woman flagged his post, warning others about Bhasin’s past and the circumstances of how the store’s manager, Brad Jackson, died.
One of Jackson’s friends saw the woman’s warning.
“What I noticed was a person that had killed my friend, had been locked up at a mental hospital for several years now, was now online dating on the internet with a profile that basically said, likes to have fun, easygoing,” Sarah Bryen told WRC.
Bhasin’s profile has been deleted, WTTG reported.
Prosecutors asked the judge overseeing Bhasin’s case to add the stipulation that he is either banned from social media or be required to have software that allows someone to review his posts.
“Because the acquittee may be meeting potential romantic partners while not only concealing, but actively lying about his recent history, those individuals may be put at risk during a … time when the acquittee is first transitioning to the community,” the prosecution’s motion said, according to WRC.
Bhasin’s attorney said his client is not on any social media or dating sites, NBC News reported.
The attorney claimed Bhasin cut and pasted a profile he had made before the stabbing, WRC reported.
On Thursday, the judge ruled that Bhasin can no longer use social media, but allowed him to keep his LinkedIn account after Bhasin’s attorney said it was necessary so he could find future employment, WTTG reported.
The judge did not order software to be installed to monitor Bhasin’s internet usage, WRC reported.
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