Word: pleas
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...have known for some months in advance that Hinckley might "get off because of insanity," those bold-face headlines heralding the verdict nevertheless knotted our sense of justice deep inside. Since then, journalists, political cartoonists, legal experts, laymen and legislators have launched a barrage of criticism against the insanity plea in criminal proceedings. Many are frustrated to the point of fearing. "It's become a big game. You can get away with anything if you just pretend you're nuts." Implicit in the cynicism is a clear message: reform the use of the "not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity" plea...
...recovered from their illness before permitting their release (as opposed to the present system, which requires that the government prove the defendant is still insane and should remain in stitutionalized) would be far less unjust than the guilty but-mentally-ill verdict, and certainly less disingenuous. If the insanity plea has in deed become a big courtroom game, the guilty but mentally-ill verdict does not encourage a change in the rules Rather, it encourages cheating...
Earlier this week, Benson dropped this controversial defense, in exchange for a guilty plea on the lesser charge of harassment. "I have long argued that there is no basis for the use of this defense," crowed Brooklyn District Attorney Elizabeth Holtzman, the prosecutor in the case. "The withdrawal of this defense is a signal that PMS is a defense without merit...
...only eight years in prison instead of a possible death sentence. He took the stand last Wednesday in the murder trial of Carthan, but much of his testimony was ruled inadmissible as hearsay, since Hester alone had made all the alleged arrangements with Carthan. The next day a new plea bargain was struck, this one with Hester: for testifying that he and Bolden had killed Granderson on Carthan's orders and for pleading guilty to felonious assault, he would not be prosecuted for murder...
...point man in Congress, to Reaganomics and blamed him for not changing Reagan's mind on the Soviet pipeline sanctions, which are unpopular in an area where some pipeline equipment would have been made. But this mostly Republican district still seems inclined to heed the President's plea for patience and not add Michel's name to Peoria's list of 20,000 unemployed...