News James Holmes Spared - Death Penalty

[shyvas]

Cinema Killer James Holmes Spared Death Penalty

 

[beancounter]

How much do you want to bet that he planned the whole thing way in advance...including going to a psychologist to build a history (and a legitimacy) of mental illness - that he could use as a defense if he got caught.

 

[shyvas]

That off course, is a possibility.

 

[Mischief]

How much do you want to bet that he planned the whole thing way in advance...including going to a psychologist to build a history (and a legitimacy) of mental illness - that he could use as a defense if he got caught.

If so, then he's a terrifically great actor.

IMO, it was a travesty to even attempt to get the death penalty in a case against someone with such severe mental illness.

OTOH, there's probably no greater hell than severe schizophrenia, so in a way the death penalty would have been more merciful.

 

[ledboots]

The death penalty is a travesty.

 

[shyvas]

If so, then he's a terrifically great actor.

IMO, it was a travesty to even attempt to get the death penalty in a case against someone with such severe mental illness.

OTOH, there's probably no greater hell than severe schizophrenia, so in a way the death penalty would have been more merciful.

I totally agree. I haven't been watching the trial or following this case but am amazed that a person with severe mental disease could have gone to trial.

I'm also against the death penalty and wonder whether it does reduce crime and murders.

I looked up the states that still have the death penalty in the US and was surprised by the number.

States With and Without the Death Penalty | Death Penalty Information Center

 

[Moll Flanders]

I wonder how he feels now he realises what he did while he was so ill.

 

[Amy SF]

Everyone who commits murder goes to trial here in 'murka because the prosecutors are anxious to show how tough on crime they can be. That's why minors who commit violent crimes are often tried as adults. The district attorneys are usually elected rather than appointed, and a lot of them may have political ambitions beyond the DA's office. The burden of proving the mental illness or instability of the defendants rests on the defense attorneys, and they don't always succeed.

 

[Amy SF]

I wonder how he feels now he realises what he did while he was so ill.

I don't think he does feel. And he's still mentally ill.

 

[Moll Flanders]

I don't think he does feel. And he's still mentally ill.

I would imagine/hope he feels guilty about killing all those innocent people, if he is medicated properly he shouldn't be delusional and should now realise what he did.

 

[ledboots]

My understanding is that in US courts the definition of 'not guilty by reason of insanity' includes not having awareness that what you are doing is against the law. A very difficult standard to meet. Let's face it, all mass murderers are mentally ill, or they wouldn't be killing people heedlessly.

 

[Blobbenstein]

all mass murderers are mentally ill, or they wouldn't be killing people heedlessly.

there is a difference between thinking, for example, that the world is being taken over by alien nazi body snatchers, and just being full of rage, or having an extreme political belief....I'm not sure I would describe the latter as mentally ill.

I'm glad he escaped the death penalty. He even looks schizophrenic just by seeing him on TV, to me.

 

[Moll Flanders]

I saw an expert talking on TV about spree killers a while ago and she was saying that they usually have some type of grudge and the spree killing is revenge for some imagined (or real) grievance or rejection. I believe Holmes was mentally unwell but I definitely don't think they all suffer from a mental illness, most just seem like losers who want to cause harm in one of the most cowardly ways possible.