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Originally Posted by procopius
looks like temporary insanity does not work so well with premeditated murder attempts. Gosh, who knew? Thanks for posting, Don.
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This guy pleaded guilty for reasons that are unclear. The Federal Insanity defense requires that the defendant be both crazy and unable to appreciate that the act was wrong. It is clear in Steele's case that the standard was met. I don't know all of the facts of this Mendenhall case.
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[18 USC 17 Insanity defense
(a) Affirmative Defense.— It is an affirmative defense to a
prosecution under any Federal statute that, at the time of the
commission of the acts constituting the offense, the defendant, as a
result of a severe mental disease or defect, was unable to appreciate
the nature and quality or the wrongfulness of his acts. Mental disease
or defect does not otherwise constitute a defense.
(b) Burden of Proof.— The defendant has the burden of proving the
defense of insanity by clear and convincing evidence.]
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