insanity defense

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Angry Families Object as Judge Accepts Face-Biting Killer's Plea

Austin Harrouff will be committed to secure mental institution

(Newser) - A Florida man who stabbed a couple to death six years ago and was found chewing on the man's face was insane at the time, a judge ruled Monday, canceling a trial that was expected to last several weeks. Former Florida State University student Austin Harrouff, 25, was found...

After 6 Years, Florida Face-Biter Is Going on Trial

Judge will decide whether Austin Harrouff was insane when he killed couple

(Newser) - A former college student who randomly killed a Florida couple in their garage six years ago and then chewed on one victim's face finally goes on trial Monday, with a judge deciding whether he goes to prison for life or to a mental hospital. Austin Harrouff, 25, has pleaded...

Mom of Hospital Escapee: 'Terrified for the Community'

Texas man found not guilty by reason of insanity of killing his dad escapes from North Texas hospital

(Newser) - A Texas man acquitted eight years ago of murdering his father by reason of insanity has fled the hospital where he was being held, and his mom says she's "terrified" for him, their family, and the community at large. "I never, ever imagined that he would ever...

Driver in Times Square Carnage Was Mentally Ill: Jury

Decision sets up Richard Rojas for involuntary commitment

(Newser) - A New York jury agreed with the defense on Wednesday that a man who drove through a Times Square crowd in 2017, hitting more than 20 people, was not responsible for his actions. After deliberating for about six hours, the jury cleared Richard Rojas—who was charged with murder, assault,...

Elizabeth Holmes May Use Surprise Defense

Bloomberg reports she's exploring 'mental disease or defect' argument

(Newser) - Elizabeth Holmes is facing serious prison time over the fraud scandal that brought down her health startup Theranos. Now Bloomberg reports that the 36-year-old might make the surprise move of using what amounts to an insanity defense at her March trial. Her lawyers plan to introduce evidence to show that...

He Said He Faked Insanity, Got Released. Then, Murder
He Said He Faked Insanity,
Got Released. Then, Murder
in case you missed it
Apr 5, 2020 10:50 AM CDT

He Said He Faked Insanity, Got Released. Then, Murder

Inside the strange case of Anthony Montwheeler

(Newser) - In December 2016, Anthony Montwheeler, a patient at Oregon State Hospital, went before a state review board and claimed he had faked insanity in 1996, after kidnapping his wife and son at gunpoint, in order to avoid prison. It worked: Rather than being incarcerated, he was sentenced to remain under...

SCOTUS Holds Firm on One of Nation's Toughest Laws

High court says states are free to block insanity defense

(Newser) - Facing a challenge from a man sentenced to death for killing four people, the US Supreme Court responded Monday by upholding one of the country's strictest laws on insanity pleas. James Kahler—who claimed he was suffering from depression when he killed his two daughters, their mother, and their...

Man Who Murdered 4 in His Family Found Not Guilty

Lovequawn Scott was mentally ill at the time, court says

(Newser) - A South Carolina man who murdered four family members was found not guilty Friday by reason of insanity, WCSC reports. In a bench trial, Jennifer Kneece Shealy of the Ninth Circuit's Solicitor's Office said Lovequawn Scott was clearly ill and had been refused help at a mental health...

'Insanity Plea' Cases May Never Be the Same

The US Supreme Court takes up James Kahler's case

(Newser) - The day after Thanksgiving in 2009, James Kahler went to the home of his estranged wife's grandmother, where he shot the two women, along with his two teenage daughters. No one—not even Kahler's attorneys—disputes that he killed the four relatives. Instead, his lawyers argue that he...

2nd 'Slender Man' Girl Will Plead Insanity

Both girls will be tried as adults

(Newser) - Both girls in Wisconsin's disturbing "Slender Man" case will now be pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. Attorneys for 14-year-old Anissa Weier signaled this week that they want to change her plea in the attempted murder case from not guilty to "NGI," meaning that she'...

Judge: Man Can't Have Pension of Wife He Killed

Wash. revisits 'slayer statute' over man who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity

(Newser) - Robert Selland stabbed his wife to death in 2011, admitted doing so, and currently resides in a mental hospital after having been found not guilty by reason of insanity. Now, thanks to a Washington state judge who ruled on Jan. 22 that Selland falls under the state's "slayer...

Doctor May Blame Double Murder on Cough Syrup

Louis Chen accused of stabbing partner, 2-year-old son to death

(Newser) - A doctor accused of murdering his partner and their 2-year-old son in 2011 will go on trial in April next year—and he may blame cough syrup for the grisly killings. Louis Chen's defense team in October filed papers signaling that they will argue that the 43-year-old was suffering...

Politician Made History With Insanity Plea

Daniel Sickles killed his wife's lover in 1859, and got off

(Newser) - New York Congressman Daniel Sickles put it simply before killing a friend: "Key, you scoundrel, you have dishonored my house—you must die!" But the trial that followed was hardly simple and set a vast historic precedent when Sickles became the first American to successfully plead temporary insanity,...

Iowa Teen: I Thought I Killed Goblin, Not Brother

Cody Metzker-Madsen of Iowa is pleading insanity in foster brother's death

(Newser) - An Iowa teenager has testified that when he killed his 5-year-old foster brother, he was in a fantasy world and thought he was killing a goblin. Cody Metzker-Madsen told the western Iowa jury yesterday that he visits a world only he can reach whenever he plays with someone. He says...

'Slender Man' Suspect Won't Stand Trial—for Now

Judge decides that Morgan Geyser, 12, isn't competent just yet

(Newser) - One of the girls accused in the so-called "Slender Man" attack won't have to stand trial—at least not yet. After a psychologist's testimony, a judge ruled today that Morgan Geyser, 12, isn't competent to stand trial but probably will be down the road, the Milwaukee ...

Dad Not Guilty of Decapitating Disabled Son

Jeremiah Wright was accused of dismembering his boy

(Newser) - A Louisiana man accused of dismembering his disabled, 7-year-old son and leaving his head in a yard was found not guilty by reason of insanity on Friday, WDSU reports. Jeremiah Wright, 32, was arrested in 2011 for the gruesome killing, and told investigators that he believed his son Jori Lirette—...

James Holmes Pleads Insanity

Judge accepts plea; mental evaluation to follow

(Newser) - As expected , accused Aurora theater shooter James Holmes pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity today, and a judge accepted the plea—setting the stage for a mental evaluation that could take months. Holmes' lawyers repeatedly have said he is mentally ill, but they delayed the insanity plea while...

Holmes Judge to Hear Challenge to Insanity Law

Defense says it's unconstitutional

(Newser) - The judge in the Aurora movie theater shooting case will listen to defense lawyers' arguments against the constitutionality of Colorado's insanity defense law, Reuters reports. The law is unconstitutional, lawyers say, because it says James Holmes can't summon mental health experts of his own choosing—rather than court-appointed...

James Holmes to Plead Insane

Attorneys say he'll change to not guilty by reason of insanity

(Newser) - In a not-so-surprising development, accused Aurora shooter James Holmes plans to use the insanity defense. His attorneys filed papers today saying their client intends to plead not guilty by reason of insanity at a hearing next week, reports the Denver Post . If the judge goes along, doctors at a state...

James Holmes Could Be Given 'Truth Serum'

Plea due today in Aurora shooting

(Newser) - James Holmes' plea in the Aurora massacre is due today—and if he pleads insanity at the time of the shooting, he could be administered medication to confirm he's telling the truth. In a so-called "narcoanalytic interview," the defendant could receive inhibition-lowering drugs; these may include sodium...

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