Texas woman Aquitted for stoning her sons to death ...I thought TX would've given her the death penalty or something...
Hey, that's the US judicial system for you. All you need to do is say "God told me to do it" and they say you're insane, and you're free to go! (More less) PL
"All five mental health experts consulted in the case, including two for the prosecution and one for the judge, concluded that a severe mental illness caused Laney to have psychotic delusions that rendered her incapable of knowing right from wrong during the killings -- the standard in Texas for insanity. Psychiatrists testified that Laney believed she was divinely chosen by God -- just as Mary was chosen to bear Christ -- to kill her children as a test of faith and then serve as a witness after the world ended"-Houston Chronicle When 5 psychiatrist agree,even the ones for the prosecution,that the woman was insane(not knowing right from wrong)-there is little to be done under the law.
Quoting the article, I think the argument of "She knew what she did was wrong because she called 911 right after the murders" is a very valid one.
I happen to agree shark, but I was not on the jury. My point was the jurors believed the psychiatrist-that she was incapable of knowing right from wrong. The jurors followed the law, acquitted her for insanity. We in Texas have a long history of not buying insanity pleas, for a jury to believe it-she must be reeeeeeaaaaly out there.
No offense Neko, but I'm with SS on this one. I'm in the medical field, I've seen "insane" patients suddenly become quite sane after the trial is over and they've been acquitted. Not always, but I'm skeptical in this case because of the 911 call.
In Another Case I read in the L.A. Times that there was this man who ran over a woman and pleaded insanity because God told him to run over her because she was black. I believe he was acquitted or was convicted on less serious charges.
There was a guy who shot a bunch of people, then pleaded insanity, saying he ate some Twinkies, and the sugar caused temporary insanity. He got off. PL
You know what the really strange thing about this case is........ 5 psychiatrists AGREED with each other. David