- Joined
- Nov 11, 2013
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I kind of understand. It's possible for a murderer to be of sound mind during the act but due to other factors - regret, remorse, fear, being put in a cell, etc. - their mental state can deteriorate after the act. IOW, there are two determinations that must be made; did the perp act intentionally as they committed the crime and are they now capable of assisting in their defense?I don't understand the concept - if she's too ill to sit for trial, how can she be considered mentally healthy enough to be culpable at the time of the crime?
This case is really tricky as the girl is so young she may or may not have had the capacity to understand the consequences of murdering an infant (the finality of death) yet there is strong evidence that she knew if she continued stomping on the baby he would die. That doesn't exclude the possibility that since she was arrested she's undergone substantial stress which may impair her thinking.
IMO this is the no-win situation from hell. She's young and there's a chance she can be rehabilitated. OTOH she could be one of the rare people who lacks empathy for others and will harm someone else if she is released back into society. The whole case sucks. MOO.