CRMJ 2010-0, 42888
Writing assignment
Kiera Williams
November 10, 2015
Notorious Insanity Defense Cases
Insanity is a deranged state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder. With such a malaise mind, preventing someone from having the mental quantity required by law to enter into a relationship or transaction that removes one from criminal or civil responsibility. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insanity, n.d.) The insanity defese was discovered in 1581. English legal treatise stating that, "If a madman or a natural fool, or a lunatic in the time of his lunacy" kills someone, they cannot be held accountable. In the 18th century, the British courts decided that a defendant could not …show more content…
Daniel was a well-known New York politician and civil war union general. When Sickles was 33 he married a 15 year old girl by the name of Teresa Bagioli. At this time Daniel couldn’t present his wife to the queen so he decided to hire a common prostitute. On February 27, 1859, in Lafayette Park Daniel murder a man by the name of Philip Barton Key for having an affair with his wife. (Staff, 2011). During the trail Daniel, claimed temporary insanity due to his wife’s infidelity. Mr. Sickles stood before an all-male jury and was acquitted for murder. The public applauded his actions for liberating the ladies of Washington from the adultery Philip. (Reuters, n.d.). While looking into today’s times and society I realized Daniel sickles was acquitted due to his popularity and all male jury. In the 21st century it is unheard of to give anybody an all-male or even female jury. With adultery being so common, Daniel would have been charged with murder. After looking into this case and reading up on the people involved I noticed that Philip father wrote The Star- Spangled