It was a disappointing day in court for the family of a murdered six-year-old Sherrill girl. An Oneida County judge ruled David Trebilcock lacked criminal responsibility because of mental disease or defect in the stabbing death of Lauren Belius. Sarah Blazonis has more.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y. -- The defense in the David Trebilcock murder trial got the verdict they were hoping for. Trebilcock was accused of stabbing six-year-old Lauren Belius to death last summer.

Tuesday, Oneida County Court Judge ruled that Trebilcock lacked criminal responsibility due to mental disease or defect. That does not mean he was found not guilty.

The defense never fought the fact that Trebilcock committed the crime, but rather, his mental state was in question. The defense claimed Trebilcock thought he was a messenger from God.

Psychiatrists will now evaluate Trebilcock. If he is found to be dangerously mentally ill, he will be sent to a mental hospital for one year. That stay will extend if doctors continue to find him mentally ill.

The judge believes Trebilcock could be in that facility for some time, but the family of the victim and the prosecution don't think that's enough.

The judge extended his condolences to the family. The victim had an older brother and a twin sister. The judge noted that he is a father of twins. He said he understands the connection they have, and the loss the family is going through at this time.