Psychiatrists Testify Teen Sniper Suspect Malvo Could Not Tell Right From Wrong

AP Breaking News ^

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Dec 10, 2003

Psychiatrists Testify Teen Sniper Suspect Malvo Could Not Tell Right From Wrong By Matthew Barakat Associated Press Writer

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) - Lee Boyd Malvo did not know right from wrong during last year's sniper spree because of intense indoctrination by sniper mastermind John Allen Muhammad, two defense psychiatrists testified Wednesday at Malvo's trial. "Lee was unable to distinguish between right and wrong and was unable to resist the impulse" to commit the sniper killings, said Neil Blumberg, who examined Malvo 20 times in jail.

Psychiatrist Diane Schetky, who twice interviewed Malvo, also testified that Malvo, 17 years old at the time of the killings, agreed with the diagnosis.

The inability to tell right from wrong is the legal standard for insanity in Virginia.

Defense mental health experts have said Malvo was taught by Muhammad that right and wrong are artificial concepts and that the winner in a war determines who is right and who is wrong. Muhammad likened the sniper attacks to a war against the United States government, which he said oppresses blacks.

On cross-examination, Schetky said she believes Malvo did know right from wrong before the sniper spree, when he shot and killed Keenya Cook on Feb. 16, 2002, in Tacoma, Wash.

That shooting was the first committed by Malvo, eight months before the sniper shootings in and around Washington, D.C., that left 10 dead.

Malvo believed Muhammad would reject him if he did not kill Cook, Schetky said.

Malvo's attorneys are presenting an insanity defense to capital murder charges in the death of FBI analyst Linda Franklin, who was shot on Oct. 14, 2002, outside a Home Depot.

Schetky diagnosed Malvo with a dissociative disorder, a mental illness that she said distorted Malvo's perception of reality, a result of indoctrination by Muhammad.

She testified that Malvo "displayed a pathological loyalty to Muhammad" during his confession in which he took responsibility for being the triggerman in all the D.C.-area shootings.

Malvo has since recanted and said Muhammad was the triggerman in nearly all the shootings. A jury convicted Muhammad last month and recommended he be put to death.

Schetky said Malvo felt conflicted about the Oct. 7, 2002, shooting of 13-year-old Iran Brown outside a Bowie, Md., middle school. He thought killing children "was very wrong ... but he was complying with the plan." She said he was "relieved the shot did not kill him."

Prosecutor Robert F. Horan Jr. has suggested the conflicted feelings prove Malvo knew right from wrong.

AP-ES-12-10-03 1731EST

This story can be found at: http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAIZOKY1OD.html

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[governsleastgovernsbest]

I guess you can almost always find a shrink to testify to almost anything.

How do they square their claim that he didn't know right from wrong with the letter he apparently wrote saying he wanted to get out of his "situation."?

[Fester Chugabrew]

It's people who cannot tell right from wrong who most need the receiving end of the death penalty.

[Freedom2specul8]

sniper IS responsible ping...

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Interesting point. Surely murderous people who cannot tell right from wrong should never be returned to society.

Then again, if this defense is ever accepted, you just know that the same shrinks will turn up in a few years and testify that Malvo has now been "healed" and no longer represents a threat to society and should be freed.

[omega4412]

Testimony by psychiatrists should be as admissible in court as testimony by astrologers.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

This nation is full of dishonest, corrupt psychiatrists. And their lobby likes it that way.

[IronJack]

Lee Boyd Malvo did not know right from wrong during last year's sniper spree because of intense indoctrination by sniper mastermind John Allen Muhammad

Uh huh. He must have been hiding from the authorities because he was scared of the truancy officer.

I can't believe the defense would try to work a diminished capacity angle in this case. Malvo is a dead man. And his attorney should be flogged, then disbarred.

[aristeides]

you just know that the same shrinks will turn up in a few years and testify that Malvo has now been "healed" and no longer represents a threat to society and should be freed.

They're doing it now with Hinckley.

[gatex]

"Lee Boyd Malvo did not know right from wrong during last year's sniper spree because of intense indoctrination by sniper mastermind John Allen Muhammad, two defense psychiatrists testified ...."

So why was he hiding when he fired ?

[SauronOfMordor]

I guess you can almost always find a shrink to testify to almost anything.

We need to hold psychiatrists liable for false certification.

[RLK]

Psychiatrists Testify Teen Sniper Suspect Malvo Could Not Tell Right From Wrong

----------------------------

I have no problem with that. I can cure the condition. Let me tell him right from wrong with the clear explanation I'll put a bullet through him if he doesn't learn it in one lesson.

[Poohbah]

The problem is that psychology is subjective instead of objective--it's a matter of judgement rather than running a mathematical algorithm.

I prefer to leave the question of dminished capacity in the hands of the jury. Experts are free to testify either way; leave the final determination in the hands of 12 citizens, based on their common sense and judgement.

[gathersnomoss]

So, let me get this straight. Malvo could not tell right from wrong. Yet he could plot a kill and fully understood what happened when he had A HUMAN in his sight and pulled the trigger, resulting in someones bloody death.

Hang him high......tonight....now.....Or maybe we should send him to, oh say, Ted Kennedy's compound as a room mate. I am sick of this Victim defense.

[Simcha7]

SHALOM!

I sure do Agree with your comment!

You are absolutely 100% Correct...this Country is Filled to Overflowing with Psychiatrists and Psychologists who themselves Require/Need Therapy.

What is the matter with these Secular Humanistic Limo-Liberal SOCIALISTS???

These so Called "Doctors"...B. S. Artists are very, very Screwed up, and they Themselves DO NOT KNOW...Right From Wrong...So how in the World could they possibly tell their patients that they (the patients) are Mentally Disturbed?

Its a Shame that the Criminals: John Mohammad and Malvo didn't shoot up someone who was close to the STUPID Doctors making these ridiculous evaluations...that would have been a Different Story....Well, then again, maybe NOT.

[RightWhale]

Yes, he at least knew how to hold a rifle correctly.

[Bella]

Testimony by psychiatrists should be as admissible in court as testimony by astrologers.

Remember this, psychiatrists will say whatever is wanted for a right price in court..

[Carthago delenda est]

Malco couldn't tell right from wrong?

Neither can most psychiatrists.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"What is the matter with these Secular Humanistic Limo-Liberal SOCIALISTS???

These so Called "Doctors"...B. S. Artists are very, very Screwed up, and they Themselves DO NOT KNOW...Right From Wrong...So how in the World could they possibly tell their patients that they (the patients) are Mentally Disturbed?"

Well said!

I love the way psychiatrists are used by the state to provide legal reason to force children to take amphetemines, and then go to therapy for reprogramming and mind control by the same doctor. $$$$$$$$$$$ Its just so easy to screw children, since they have little rights.

They RUBBERSTAMP the school's diagnosis almost every time.

And you gotta love it when they create new behavi... I mean mental diseases every year that provide millions in revenue like ADD, defiance disorder, ADHD, etc.

Behavior is now a disease. It's all a sham. Period.

[glock rocks]

Could Not Tell Right From Wrong

yah, but the little POS could tell right from left with that bushie. fry 'im.

[glock rocks]

Testimony by psychiatrists should be as admissible in court as testimony by astrologers.

Whoa, that bears repeating!

Testimony by psychiatrists should be as admissible in court as testimony by astrologers.