I just wanted to say, not all diagnosed sociopaths are psychotic crazy killers. And not all crazy killers are psychopaths/sociopaths. Some are just real nasty people or people who get caught up in a rageful moment and kill someone.
I met a man at work several years ago. He did the IT when I was working in education policy and procedure (instead of teaching). He's an odd man. Unusual.
3 years down the track, I am great friends with his wife and him. BUT I happen to know that this man has been diagnosed with ASPD (Antisocial Personality Disorder), sociopath, Bi polar and possibly some other things over the years. He has been an involuntary inpatient in a mental health facility more than once in his teenage years. He was expelled from lots of schools. He has a juvenile history of blowing stuff up. He is quick to violence with people outside his circle and can justify to himself why it was ok, and actually finds it amusing.
This man is 30, and whilst an unusual man, with a VERY bad history and a terribly abusive childhood, he holds down a well paying professional job in senior management. He has been married 10 years (his wife is a few years older and a saint of a owman). He is a dad to a delightful 6 year old girl.
And according to the diagnostic criteria, he is a sociopath. But he loves "his people". I am one of "his people" (thank God). But other people, he really doesn't give a toss about. He is also incredibly intelligent. But he's not a criminal (as an adult), or a murderer. Although I have no doubt he could kill someone if he decided to. He partakes in risky behaviours. But he's not a bad guy.
I don't think JA is a psychopath or sociopath. I think she is more likely bipolar with extreme emotional surges. I do think her killing of TA was premeditated - but I also think it was a crime of passion. She was so angry at how he treated her that she was going to kill him.
But I DON'T think that makes her a psychopath/sociopath. I think she's nuts...there is defiantly something not quite right about her, but I tend to think it's more based on having HUGE uncontrollable emotions than having ASPD....it just doesn't add up to me.
Of course I am more than happy to be wrong. My experience of a man with ASPD is one of a man who is VERY much about himself, but not a bad person, at least, not to me. A good provider and who loves his family and friends.
This of course probably clouds my judgement.
But I just don't think JA a sociopath/psychopath because she killed someone in a fit of rage.
I think she's guilty as hell, and crazy as a cut snake. But I just don't think there is enough evidence, anecdotal, presented in court, in the videos.... to prove she has ASPD.
And as for sticking to her crazy story that doesn't make sense - to get off a death sentence murder charge, and this was your story and you had to stick to it...wouldn't you? I mean, would you really just roll over and decide to die? I think her defence has just been appalling towards TA and so painful to his family BUT (I can't imagine killing someone, I dont even feel comfortable with the death sentence for people like JA)....but if I was in her position and all I had between me and possible death was a crazy story, I think I'd stick to it and hope to hell someone believed me. I don't think her sticking to the story shows she's crazy, just uncreative.
