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Evidence of Severe Mental Illness Often Not Enough to Prove "Insanity"

By Kristin Houle

Here's another article from the New York Times regarding the case of David Tarloff, a man with severe mental illness who is charged with second-degree murder in the slashing death of Kathryn Faughey, an Upper East Side therapist ("Actions Considered Insane Often Don?t Meet the Standards of New York?s Legal System," February 20, 2008). As in Texas, evidence of severe mental illness is not enough to be considered "insane" under New York law:"A diagnosis of schizophrenia and repeated commitments to mental institutions might seem like obvious qualifications for an insanity defense ? or maybe not. Experts say the legal standard for insanity is very different from what most laymen and even psychiatrists would consider crazy behavior.The case of David Tarloff, 39, who is charged with second-degree murder in the slashing death of Kathryn Faughey, an Upper East Side therapist, is the latest to raise questions about when a defendant is too mentally ill to be responsible for his behavior...continue to full post

Full post as published by Prevention Not Punishment on February 21, 2008 (boomark / email).