JACKSON, MI – Michael Hamilton told a psychologist he thought he was playing the role of an “Irish hoodlum” on Sept. 8, 2012, the day Hamilton allegedly shot to death Robert Marcyan.

Hamilton believed the gun was a prop for the show or movie and it was firing blanks, testified Dr. Jeffrey Wendt, who has a doctorate’s degree in clinical psychology and reviewed the case for the defense.

Wendt said it is his “strong opinion” Hamilton was mentally ill at the time of Marcyan’s death. He lost contact with reality as a result of his medication, Adderall, prescribed to him because he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Wendt said.

“He followed the doctor’s recommended course of treatment and it snowballed out of control…”

Wendt said he believes Hamilton developed “substance-induced” mood and psychotic disorders, and he did not appreciate the nature and quality or the wrongfulness of his conduct, meaning he was legally insane.

The prosecution is arguing Hamilton, 34, is guilty of first-degree and attempted murder for shooting Marcyan and firing at, but not hitting, Marcyan’s twin brother, Richard, outside Hamilton’s father’s cottage on Wamplers Lake in Norvell Township. He then allegedly stole two vehicles before his eventual arrest.

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Kati Rezmierski has suggested, in her questioning, that Hamilton abused or overused his medication, and other drugs. This would make his intoxication “voluntary,” which is not a legitimate defense and would negate the defense argument, which contends he was “involuntarily” intoxicated by legally prescribed medication.

On at least three occasions, Hamilton reported his Adderall lost, stolen or damaged and he had to request a new prescription.

He has a history of Vicodin or pain killer addiction and has been prescribed Suboxone to help him with this issue, according to testimony.

Wendt said he does not believe Hamilton was using Vicodin the day of the killing. People with opiate dependencies have severe withdrawal symptoms. The records from the jail do not indicate he had these symptoms, Wendt said, and he was arrested the same day as the shooting.

Further, Wendt said he found no indication Hamilton was “doctor shopping.” He was taking only the Adderall prescribed by a single psychiatrist, Dr. Raad Jajo.

Wendt said Hamilton had concurrent feelings of grandiosity and paranoia. He expressed concern people were watching him and he had an inflated sense of self-worth.

In the days before the shooting, he said, because he had published songs or an album on iTunes as "Irish Mike," others thought he was a millionaire. He claimed an affiliation or upcoming collaboration with rappers Eminem and Dr. Dre.

“He came to believe that everything that happened around him was orchestrated and scripted,” said Wendt, who interviewed Hamilton, reviewed his medical and other records and spoke with people who knew him.

Somehow, he had gotten notice to participate in this production because of his successful music career. “He felt he was in on some secret.”

His mother was related to actor Tom Selleck. She had gone to Hollywood to make arrangements for this project, Hamilton said, and his father had done work on a car featured in a Kid Rock video.

Richard and Robert Marcyan came to the cottage on that day in September because they were part of the movie, Wendt said.

Hamilton told Wendt he did not remember the shooting, he just remembers “the voices” telling him to pull the trigger.

Wendt’s testimony will continue Friday, Oct. 10. Rezmierski is yet to conclude her cross examination. Several other witnesses also are to take the stand.