I like that idea, CARIIS. It just doesn't feel right to watch someone with authentic mental illness go through a Death Penalty trial. Of course, some criminals do fake it and get away with it. In this case, the DP was mentioned early, and then the father right away started talking about a mental insanity defense. As I said, I doubt the state will decide to go for the DP. Yes, save the $$$$$$$!!!
Side note on another case if you're interested:
I'm following a case where the killer tried to kill himself with Tylenol right after he was arrested. He had some kind of mental illness yet his crimes were very planned and organized, then he acts totally catatonic in court. They sent him to a state mental facility for over a year, then back to jail awaiting his DP trial. While in jail recently, he and his cell mate both overdosed on drugs in what looks like dual suicide attempts. It'll be close to four years if the trial happens, and I doubt he'll get the DP, and in California that doesn't even happen, plus he's suicidal anyways.
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...Ilona-Flint-22-San-Diego-24-Dec-2013-3/page41
I guess for me I am more worried about the ones that are menytally ill, but dont meet our outdated know the diff between right and wrong. IMO many peopple who are mentally ill know know the diff between right and wrong but that does not translate to that they did not behave or do what they did
becasue of their illiness.
In some instances, someone suffering with schzophrenia , who needed to be placed in seclusion, would several ldays later be apologetyic, it does not mean IMo days earlier he/she could have stopped from acting out
I dont really undertand why it bothers people, fine some people might malinger and beat the system (people with money beat the system daily) they are still locked up , society is safe, and they have a nicer bed.
At the same time they are living with people who do not know who they are, are sedated they cant move etc. The system is game - noone is determing sanity/ insanity -- it depends on which doctors that are purchased have better social skills in front of a jury.
Or prettier , or handsome - noone is looking for the truth - each side pays off their doctor who then says whatever his paycheck needs him to say.
Our system worked 100's of years ago when , as a nation we had morality- and no doctor (most) would not allow themselves to be purchased for testimony.
Again the amount of money wasted on determining sanity to go to trial could be put in our fund! Gosh by this point we have so many hospitals we can help the majority of mentally ill people who need a structured life- how awesome - being humane to sick people in the USA - cool huh?
Hey think how unlolgged the system could get. Think about it Joe blow was fine, committed a hideous act, claims he is GUILtY cause he is insane. Hey he said he did the crime - admit him to a psyc hospital , in three days, next case your honor
My notion is the system was intially about guilt or innoncense - well the lawyer said he
did it - he is guilty - sentence and move on.
In addition getting the death penality does not really mean a lot - it just cost scoety millions more (that could be put in our fund)
It is almost like arguing with someone who says they did it that they didnt?
Long ago it quit being about fidning the truth - guilt or innocne-its a racket. Its no different IMO than a football locker room. Preosectors gets a touchdown for guilty, a punt for no contest, and defense lawyers get a touchdown for not guilty, (allowing higher billable hours).
Most of the system exists on plea bargains - nothing to do with justice. Its about the charged admitting to all sorts of stuff they did not commit - to get it over with and knock the "risk" of incaration off the table.
Has nothing to do, any longer, with guilt or innocne, right or wrong, its big buessiness - just like Procter and Gamble keeping thier "Tide" sales humming along nicely $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$