Comments on: A conjoined criminal enterprise

By: Mark in Jersey

Mark in Jersey — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:54:49 +0000

Can it be similar to punishing someone with multiple personalities disorder, one who has no cognition or control of what happens when the “other persona” takes over, the Dr. Jekyll – Mr.Hyde switch takes place?

Although multiple personalities do not manifest themselves simultaneously (maybe they do – on rare occasions or on a subliminal level, I’m not a psychiatrist), the conjoined twins interact continuously (and consciously)…Hmm.

The plea would be similar to “not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect“.

Does “not guilty by reason of physical defect” sound believable?

Would a jury “buy” it?

By: Gideon

Gideon — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:51:25 +0000

Yes, a suspended sentence is punishment!

But it is a crazy question and statistically impossible to happen. Yet, we are law nerds and that’s what floats our boat.

By: Jen

Jen — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:36:30 +0000

This is a crazy question. There’s simply no way to punish one without punishing the other – unless it was a suspended sentence (and really, is that punishment?)

By: Bill Thompson

Bill Thompson — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:46:28 +0000

I never took the time to research it, but in the context of pro-life attempts to amend state constitutions to recognize the beginning of life at conception, the question arises as to whether the fetus of a pregnant imprisoned woman could apply for habeas relief as “a person” wrongfully imprisoned. Same type of issue…

By: Gideon

Gideon — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:12:30 +0000

Non-insane whosawhatism?

He’d definitely be not guilty of the crime committed by the brother. The question is how do you punish the guilty one without also necessarily punishing the innocent one.

By: Benjamin Gray

Benjamin Gray — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:10:14 +0000

If the twin genuinely had no control over the actions of his brother, wouldn’t he be not guilty by reason of non-insane automatism?