Rochester, NY - Hours after Alexandra Kogut's body was found in her dorm room at Brockport College in September, her boyfriend allegedly told a jail guard: "I killed my girlfriend."
He then described how the two had fought over "stupid things."
Whittemore claimed Kogut started pushing him and he "snapped."
Kogut was beaten to death.
In court Wednesday, Whittemore's attorneys said they intend to prove the 21 year-old suffered from extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the murder.
Attorneys said this is not an insanity defense, but instead suggest emotional distress played a role in the murder.
If the court allowed this defense and the jury accepted it, it could reduce the murder charge to manslaughter.
Whittemore's attorney Mark Curley told 13WHAM News this murder devastated both families who are from the same town near Utica.
Curley said, "no one can figure out what happened. It's been a terrible thing for both families and for the community as a whole."
District Attorney Sandra Doorley is prosecuting the murder case. She said doctors will determine what Whittemore's state of mind was the day of the murder.
The judge set a date of September 30th for the trial to begin.
Attorneys said they will challenge statements Whittemore allegedly made to the jail guard.
Whittemore is being held without bail. He will return to court May 10th.
Curley told 13WHAM News this murder has devastated both families who are from the same town near Utica.
