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Benoit: No plea deal for doctor
10/07/2007 08:07 - (SA)
Atlanta - A lawyer for the personal doctor who prescribed steroids for WWE wrestler Chris Benoit said on Monday his client has no plans at this time to plead guilty to improperly prescribing medication to two other patients.
Police have said Benoit strangled his wife and son, placing Bibles next to the bodies, and then hung himself on a piece of exercise equipment on June 22.
Authorities found anabolic steroids in Benoit's home in suburban Atlanta, leading officials to wonder whether the drugs played a role in the killings.
Some experts believe steroids can cause paranoia, depression and violent outbursts known as "roid rage."
Toxicology tests on Benoit's body are not yet complete.
Astin was charged last week with improperly prescribing medications to two patients, but not Benoit. More charges are possible later. Astin pleaded not guilty at his first court appearance.
"There will be no plea of this unless that is the appropriate thing to do based on the case, and we have no evidence that that is the case," Dr Phil Astin's attorney, Manny Arora, said.
A federal magistrate judge on Monday scheduled a pre-trial conference in Astin's case for July 19.
A federal agent's affidavit said Astin prescribed a 10-month supply of anabolic steroids to Benoit every three to four weeks between May 2006 and May 2007.
Astin said he prescribed testosterone for Benoit, a longtime friend, in the past but has not said what, if any, medications he prescribed when Benoit visited his office June 22, the day authorities believe Benoit killed his wife.
A sheriff's official said on Friday that Astin also is being investigated in the February 2006 death of another wrestler, Michael Durham.
District Attorney Scott Ballard did not return a call to his cellphone on Monday seeking comment on the status of that case.
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