this post was submitted on 13 Feb 2024
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His primary goal during the trial was to prove he was medically sane and could stand trial. He spent 5 years preparing for the attack.
I can understand being opposed to capital punishment by principle, I'm opposed to it myself, but acting like there are no cut and dry cases is just being disingenuous. Some cases you know for certain who did what, and that it wasn't "just" a manic episode.
No it isn't.
The political environment in which cases occur can always have an effect. Political views change, and there are no absolutes in politics.
Legal systems change and vary from place to place as do standards of evidence.
Psychological assessments are always open to interpretation at the time and reassessment as understanding and scientific models change.
There are too many moving parts to ever be 100% certain. 99.999999999... yes. 100% no.
Determining guilt absolutely can be a cut and dry case. And if your mind is capable of performing a history book noteworthy crime, some psychologist absolutely will make up an diagnose for you. That doesn't lessen the impact on what you did, nor does it absolve responsibility.
Please let's not get into Last Thursdayism level of absurdity about 100% certainty, this isn't 8th grade physics class. You perfectly understand the intent behind the phrase.