California IN BRIEF : SAN DIEGO : Insanity Plea Made in Double Murder

A laid-off technician pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges of murdering two company executives during a shooting and bombing rampage at an electronics firm. Municipal Judge E. Mac Amos ordered Larry T. Hansel, 41, to stand trial in Superior Court for the June 4 shooting deaths of Elgar Corp. executives John Jones and Michael Krowitz. Hansel told Amos he understood the consequences of the plea. He could face a minimum commitment of 90 days and a maximum of life in a state mental institution if he is found insane. A psychiatrist and a psychologist have found Hansel to be psychotic, said Alex Loebig, a deputy public defender.