CHARLESTON, S.C. — An expert on child psychiatry who usually testifies for prosecutors told jurors Monday that the antidepressant Zoloft so affected Christopher Pittman's mind that the 12-year-old was helpless to ignore the hallucinations that commanded, "Kill. Kill. Do it."

Testifying for the defense at Christopher's murder trial, Dr. Lanette Atkins of the South Carolina Department of Mental Health said she told Christopher's first public defender that she doubted she could be of service.

At the time, Atkins was working as a consultant, even though she had a state job.

"I told him, 'I don't think I'm going to be able to help you with this case,'" Atkins told jurors. "My opinion has changed dramatically."

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Atkins said all the actions that prosecutors claim show Christopher consciously killed his grandparents — shooting them to death, burning down their home, running away, lying to police and then giving a chilling confession — can be attributed to an adverse reaction to Zoloft.

Racial slurs and sexual remarks that Christopher made to jailers even months later are also part of the "mania" psychiatrists have observed in patients who have an adverse reaction to the drug, she said.

Prosecutors have not yet cross-examined Atkins, who will be on the stand again Tuesday. But, based on their facial expressions, body language and glances toward jurors, prosecutors Barney Giese and John Meadors seemed to be broadcasting their opinion that too much of Christopher's strange behavior is being attributed to Zoloft.

Although the Pittmans' family physician testified that he gave Christopher less than two dozen 50mg pills of Zoloft, Atkins said she believes Christopher actually was taking as much as 200mg per day when he shot and killed Joe Pittman, 66, and Joy Pittman, 60, on Nov. 28, 2001.

She based that on the number and colors of pills Christopher told her he was taking during their more than 40 visits together.

Then defense attorney Paul Waldner asked the central question at Christopher's trial, now in its second week.

"Based on everything you have done ... do you have an opinion, given Chris' age in November 2001, and the fact that he was on Zoloft, that Chris Pittman had the capacity to form the necessary intent ... ?" Waldner asked.

"He didn't have the malice and forethought required to form the criminal intent to kill his grandparents," Atkins said. "He didn't know right from wrong."

Atkins said she based her opinion on several factors, including testimony that Christopher seemed more concerned after being caught about being sent back to Florida to live with his disciplinarian father than of being prosecuted.

She said the murders, the fire he set and the way he left the scene all show that he did not have an "organized plan" when psychotic thoughts triggered by the antidepressant overcame him.

She testified that Christopher, who may not take the stand, said he felt like he was part of a "TV show" during his rampage, but was unable to stop it.

Anticipating the cross-examination, Waldner asked Atkins whether Christopher's behavior while incarcerated in 2002 was consistent with a mood disorder induced by medication.

He referred specifically to the state's claim that Christopher used racial and ethnic slurs with guards, calling one a "black bitch" and telling another that the Ku Klux Klan was going to kick his "nigger ass."

The image was in stark contrast to the testimony of Christopher's maternal grandmother that he was a "sweet boy" again after he stopped taking Zoloft.

"All that behavior was based on the fact that he was still in mania," Atkins testified.

Prosecutors are expected to begin cross-examining Atkins at 9:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday. The trial is being broadcast by Court TV and streamed online by Court TV Extra.