Colo. theater shooting suspect offers guilty plea

apdst said:

In some cases, but this guy isn't as ready to die as some folks have made out, which means that he's not all that mentally ****ed up.

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I might argue the opposite. I would say that in his situation the sane person would welcome death.

CanadaJohn said:

I might argue the opposite. I would say that in his situation the sane person would welcome death.

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Now, that, we disagree on.

CanadaJohn said:

I might argue the opposite. I would say that in his situation the sane person would welcome death.

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Sane people want to die? Why do so many people fight to avoid the death penalty than? Are nearly all people who face the DP insane?

CanadaJohn said:

I admittedly don't know a lot about your legal system/penalties, but from what I've seen and heard about this man, the court should not accept any guilty plea and he should be tried and found not guilty due to mental illness and committed to an mental institution for the rest of his life, not a prison. A prison is not the place for such an ill person.

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based on what criteria?

CanadaJohn said:

Fair enough - even some who are mentally ill are capable of signing on the dotted line when instructed to do so.

Until trial, we'll never know what the opinions of various mental health professionals are as it relates to his mental capacity. Considering the psychiatrist who was seeing him before this incident was so concerned about his mental health that she warned the university and considering his affectation since, I think there's a strong possibility this man is severely mentally ill.

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id recommend going to YouTube and looking up some of the interview video with Charles Manson. What you will see is pretty remarkable. We have a man that sits calmly talking to the interviewer discussing things like light, camera angles, etc, and then as soon as the cameras go on...presto...he's "Charlie".

Holmes was no do doubt a bitter, angry hate filled individual but he was not insane. He didnt lack the capacity of choice and judgement. In fact he very clearly demonstrated it. He orchestrated the event as well as an escape plan. Then...when caught... He goes to court and puts on the sideshow bob routine. You used the word affect. I'd say "affected" is far more likely.

CanadaJohn said:

I might argue the opposite. I would say that in his situation the sane person would welcome death.

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That's one reason I don't support the death penalty. If the person is sane, I'd much rather he have the opportunity to reflect daily on his crimes and to live a very long and healthy life. If he's insane, and I do understand that this is a legal term meaning that Holmes knew that what he was doing was wrong, I also support life without parole.

But whether he's legally insane or not, I do think Holmes is mentally ill and therefore also ineligible for the death penalty.