Rockefeller impostor 'delusional'

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An alleged fantasist accused of kidnapping his UK-based daughter is "completely delusional", a court heard.

Christian Gerhartsreiter - who called himself Clark Rockefeller - is accused of abducting Reigh Boss, in the US.

The seven year old was found a week later and reunited with her mother Sandra Boss.

Defence psychologist Catherine Howe told a Boston court Mr Gerhartsreiter suffered from disorders that impaired his judgment of right and wrong.

Ms Howe said he suffered from delusional and narcissistic disorders which meant he was unaware that his actions in snatching the child were wrong.

His defence lawyers say his mental illnesses mean he is not criminally responsible.

They have previously claimed that he believed the child was communicating with him telepathically, and asked him to rescue her.

Custody 'threat'

Ms Boss's ex-husband is accused of abducting their daughter - also known to the family as Snooks - during a supervised visit in Boston last July.

Prosecutors have said the German-born defendant - who was posing as a descendant of oil tycoon John D Rockefeller - is a conman and consummate liar.

They maintain the 48 year old was perfectly sane when he took the child, who now lives in London.

Earlier this week the court heard Mr Gerhartsreiter had threatened to take sole custody of his daughter long before kidnapping her.

Ms Boss told the court he made the threats when she said she was considering divorce.

US prosecutors have also said that the accused has changed his identities repeatedly since moving to the US in 1978.

They say he mixed for years in American high society and fooled many people with made-up stories about his background.

Ms Boss said he was a controlling husband and she had had a "blind spot" to his lies, but that the couple eventually broke up after 12 years of marriage in 2007.

The trial continues.