DC Sniper Suspect may claim nerve gas exposure

[vass0922]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/04/11/sniper.hearing/

Attorney Jonathan Shapiro said he wants that specialist to look into a variety of aspects about Muhammad's background, including his "role in the Gulf War" and "possible exposure to nerve agents (and) chemical weapons."

Asked by a reporter after the hearing whether suspicions that Muhammad was exposed to nerve agents were based on evidence or conjecture, Shapiro said, "It's not wild conjecture. Let me answer it that way."

[skuz]

And how does that change anything to the case ?

[Chuckiechan]

Good luck selling that to a jury!

[vass0922]

He'd probably be able to go for insanity or some other sort of plea much easier if he were able to blame it on something else.

He did it under diress, if he didn't kill those people the voices caused by the Nerve agents would of killed him

[osprey4]

If he wants to claim nerve gas exposure, I think we should try to accomodate him.

[skuz]

Insanity, yeah right !

Of course, all insane people can develop such a stealthy and efficient method to kill people.

[Epidemic]

he is insane!

No sane person would run around shooting people for the hell of it.

Flip side is, he knew it was wrong by trying to hide it. So technically not insane.

The saddest thing is that this ever made it to trial. It would have been so much nicer to have slipped and shot the car full of holes and left them to rot.

Who in their right mind could kill someone for no reason. I've never really understood the insanity defense. Any cold blooded murderer is insane.

[M_Six]

Any cold blooded murderer is insane.

You would think that, no? But in the eyes of the law, a socio-path is not insane. Some people have no conscience. They don't have internal feelings of right and wrong. They can watch horrible suffering and not be moved by it. They know what they're doing is wrong because the laws say it is, but they don't feel it on the emotional level. This sniper is probably one of those folks. He's missing the ability to "feel" what's right and wrong, but he understands the law and the norms of society. He is, therefore, culpable for his actions.

[Epidemic]

Can't an upstanding cop forget to warn him about the rollerskates on the stairs leading down to the meeting with the lawyer. Whooooops! Sorry!