Insanity Defense
I can't take credit for this, my brother did some research and wrote the following:
Re: Daniel Fears Case
An excerpt of the Official Position Statement regarding the Insanity Defense by the American Psychiatric Association... The American Psychiatric Association cautioned the public and the courts not to expect too much of psychiatrists.
It suggested that psychiatric testimony might well be restricted to an evaluation of mental condition of the defendant without drawing firm conclusions as to the whether the patient was sane or insane by legal standards, could tell right from wrong, or could control his own actions. ...and that such conclusions lie far beyond the capabilities of psychiatric expertise, and involve moral, philosophical and social judgments that are best left to juries and judges. "Determining whether a criminal defendant was legally insane is a matter for legal fact finders, not for experts," the association said.
The line between an irresistible impulse and an impulse not resisted is probably no sharper than that between twilight and dusk. This was taken directly from the 27,000 member American Psychiatric Association's Official Position Statement regarding The Insanity Defense specifically.
In the Daniel Fears case, The Oklahoma Criminal Court of Appeals has relied on paid psychiatric testimony to form their opinions. They have apparently put their trust in these psychiatrists that make up less than 1% of the Psychiatric Association's membership and have chosen to overrule a jury verdict based on the defense psychiatrist's findings.
The Psychiatric Association's official stance is clear that the line between an irresistible impulse and and an impulse not resisted is impossible to define. As a practical matter, no one can possibly know the inner workings of another person's mind at a specific time.
Now the good people of Oklahoma have to entrust their safety to the opinions of judges who believed Fear's "alien defense" and pray the judges are correct.
Thanks Bro
Remember the victims..... www.unitedvictims.com
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