[GeronL]

it was murder.

we need to stop this "insanity" stuff

[delphirogatio]

Yet it seems to me that the problem is not with an insanity defense per se. It is the fact that the society's understanding of its proper application is so diluted by pop-culture psychobabble that anyone who kills anyone must be insane. Compound that with the society's ready acceptance that there is no evil, only misunderstanding, and what you have is a situation where most killers are just misunderstood or mentally ill, neither of which merit punishment. Look at Hezbollah!

[This Just In]

"It was murder"

Did the prosecutor prove that this criminal act was premeditated? After reading about Mrs. West medical history, and having close personal relationships with friends whom have been diagnosed with mental illness, I question whether or not this crime fits the "murder" description.

It is certainly a heinous crime, and society should be protected from Mrs. West (she should be imprisoned for life), but I do not believe this crime was premeditated.