Criminal+Defenses

Criminal Defenses = Insanity Defense =

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Christopher Gribble was charged, along with four of his friends, with breaking in to the house of a 42 year women in the middle of the night and chopping her to death with a machete. The women’s 9 year old daughter was also attacked. She suffered severe injury, including a slashed throat. She was able to survive and call the police. Gribble and the others were charged with first degree murder in one of the most horrific crimes imaginable, a random killing carried out simply for the pleasure of killing.

At his trial Gribble claimed to be legally insane and therefore not responsible for his criminal actions. Watch the videos below and write your reaction to what you see.

Consider the following;


 * 1) Is Gribble a mentally ill person who should not be held responsible, or is he a cold blooded killer who deserves the toughest of punishment?
 * 2) What in the videos helped you make you decision?

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. Next, read the article below relating to this case and the insanity defense, and answer the questions that follow

A Crazy Approach to Insanity

1. What are the three generally accepted definitions for legal insanity used in the United States? 2. Should it be up to the prosecution to prove that a defendant is legally sane, or should the burden be placed on the defendant to prove that he or she is not? 3. Do you think the government should use professional juries to decide technical matters in a case, such as insanity? Why or why not?