"He was upset about his mother. He is upset about his mother dying," attorney Lloyd Epstein said.
Prosecutors say Wachtel beat his mother to death early Tuesday morning inside their Midtown apartment. 63-year-old teacher, author and film-maker Karyn Kay was heard screaming and wailing on a 10-minute 911 call that she initially placed because her son was having an epileptic seizure.
Today in court, prosecutors say that seizure turned violent, that kay was heard screaming, "He's coming after me, "No, no...no!" She is then heard grunting and wailing, followed by silence. Henry Wachtel then screamed, "Mommy! Mommy! Please don't die...."
After the arraignment, Wachtel's father left the courthouse making no comments, but the teen's defense lawyer insists there was no intent of murder, just a horrible side effect of medications for epilepsy.
Wachtel was charged with second degree murder.
Neighbors of Karyn Kay and her son at the Westerly on 55th Street and 8th Avenue have many questions over what happened and what happens next.
"I hope that he's going to get the help he needs and keep him away from other people, so he can't hurt anybody else," Cinday Chock said.
Kay was a published author and a film maker who taught at LaGuardia High School and Pratt Institute.
Her movie "Call Me" was released in 1988 to positive reviews.
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