Theater Shooters Insanity Plea Accepted

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   SpanStarposted 10 years ago

   I'm a bit in the dark here. Having accepted a insanity plea what does that really mean?
   
   http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=hol … r+shooting

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      Silverspeederposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Anybody who kills innocent people is insane, its a cop out, where the blame is placed squarely on the shoulders of society.
      It will be the fault of his parents/teacher/employer or down to bullying.

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         psycheskinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         The legal argument is purely about whether he knew what he was doing at the time of his crime and so had the "mens rea" (guilty mind) necessary to be convicted.  So basically did he know what he was doing and do it on purpose. It's a pretty low bar.

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            Silverspeederposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            What happens in the US if he is found insane at the time of the murders?

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               psycheskinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               He has to be "legally insane" which bears very little relation to being psychiatrically insane. Most psychiatrically insane people are still legally responsible for their actions.
               
               If they find he was insane in a way that means he genuinely did not know he was shooting people (i.e. so delusion he thought they were demons from hell, sleepwalking or something) then he would be put in a psychiatric facility until deemed sane, or he dies--whichever comes first.
               
               IMHO given the degree of planning shown, it is hard to see how an insanity defense would prevail in this case.

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                  Silverspeederposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  Thank psycheskinner
                  Wasn't to sure what would happen under US law.
                  Is there a chance of the death penalty in that state? Here in the UK the media seems to bring it up even when there isn't.

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                     psycheskinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     Colorado is a death penalty state but there has been only one execution since 1977, so it is very unlikely.

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   Zelkiiroposted 10 years ago

   He gets a lighter sentence. And a padded room.

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      SpanStarposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      If that's correct then thank you.

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   psycheskinnerposted 10 years ago

   It means he is pleading not guilty due to being insane.  We are not at the trial yet, let alone the sentencing.

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      SpanStarposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Well Thank You Then

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