deanna laney

[uncle_jimbo]

not guilty of capital murder, by reason of insanity... WTF


she killed two children and horribly injured a third, but claims she was instructed to do so by god, and claimed insanity... WHO IN THE RIGHT MIND BELIEVES THAT!?

[nomaxim]

Originally posted by uncle_jimbo
WHO IN THE RIGHT MIND BELIEVES THAT!?

The jury maybe?
Sounds like at least 12 people believed it.

[mpc]

Originally posted by uncle_jimbo
not guilty of capital murder, by reason of insanity... WTF


she killed two children and horribly injured a third, but claims she was instructed to do so by god, and claimed insanity... WHO IN THE RIGHT MIND BELIEVES THAT!?

Are you suggesting that anyone who would do such a thing would actually be "sane"?

[uncle_jimbo]

ok wrong choice of words + over-rection, i apologize...

IMO, her claim was BS... when she was crying at the reading of the verdict, i could have sworn when she looked down she was smiling in a strange sort of way.

[uncle_jimbo]

sorry again, i realize now that my words were, filled with stupidity and ignorance.

[mpc]

Originally posted by uncle_jimbo
i realize now that my words were, filled with stupidity and ignorance.

Well not really, your reaction was quite normal, however, she probably wasn't "insane" as far as the legal definition of insanity applies (jury vercict not withstanding). The term "insane" is a legal term, not a medical one, and thus has no real meaning outside of the legal arena. Doctors don't call anyone "insane", but rather describe a particular mental illness, such as paranoid schizophrenic, paranoid delusional, manic depressive, etc.,etc....the word "insane" has no medical meaning.

Legally speaking "insane" means that the person either/or did not know what they were doing at the time...or that they did not know it was wrong. The problem is...is that our legal system does not truly take mental illness into account, and instead relies on a ridiculous legal term that has no basis in actual medical science. Add to the fact that the lay public thinks insane means mentally disturbed.

She was definately mentally ill and the jury realized this and that is why they ruled the way they did.

Jeffery Dhamer knew that what he was doing was illegal...which can be construed as he knew it was wrong...but does anyone really believe that he wasn't seriously mentally disturbed? Although...legally...he was sane.

[nomaxim]

From CNN

Instead, she will immediately be taken for evaluation to a maximum security state psychiatric hospital, where she could stay as long as 40 years.

I wouldn't exactly say she is free to go. She's 39, so this could be almost the same as life in prison, which she would have got if found guilty.

[mpc]

That is the upper limit, however, she could easily be let out far earlier if she has a positive response to treatment, in fact, she could be out in only a few years. When you are deemed legally insane, you can only be kept up to the point that you are deemed well.

[alivin]

I allways get confused in these kind of cases, she should not be able to ever hurt another being and should be punished for what she did.But if she was really unaware what she did(at the time) was wrong through sickness and can be cured she should be.
When she is well maybe she should go to regular prison to serve her sentence.
Anyway a maximum security state psychiatric hospital, is it's own special kind of hell I hope she stays there for a long time

[mpc]

Originally posted by alivin
I
When she is well maybe she should go to regular prison to serve her sentence.
Anyway a maximum security state psychiatric hospital, is it's own special kind of hell I hope she stays there for a long time

So what your saying is...is.. that someone who has a mental illness through no fault of their own, should upon successful treatment, be punished for what they did though no fault of their own?.

Yes, that's logical...punish someone after the fact for being ill!

I can see that you've really thought this through.