NCJ Number
17451
Date Published
1975
Length
340 pages
Annotation
EXPLORES THE TRIAL PROCEEDINGS OF A MAN ACCUSED OF MURDERING HIS DAUGHTER AND THREE FRIENDS IN WHICH THE DEFENSE PLEADS NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF TEMPORARY INSANITY.
Abstract
A 17 YEAR-OLD GIRL AND THREE YOUNG MEN WHO RESIDED IN THE SAME APARTMENT WITH HER WERE SHOT AND KILLED BY THE GIRL'S FATHER. THIS BOOK PROBES THE PERSONALITIES AND EVENTS THAT WAVE THE NETWORK OF ACTIONS LEADING TO THE INCIDENT. THE STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS OF THE POLICE AND COURT OPERATIONS ARE EXAMINED AS THEY INTEND TO GATHER EVIDENCE AND ASSESS THE DEGREE OF GUILT AND RESPONSIBILITY TO BE IMPUTED TO THE ACCUSED WITHIN THE LEGAL PARAMETERS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS' EFFORTS TO ASCERTAIN AND LAY CLAIM TO THE RIGHTS OF THE DEFENDANT WITHIN POLICE AND COURT OPERATIONS ARE PRESENTED. PRETRIAL PUBLICITY, RULES GOVERNING CONFESSIONS, AND THE PROCEDURE FOR INFORMING THE ACCUSED OF HIS RIGHTS ARE EXPLORED AS ARE THE MOTIVES OF PROSECUTION AND DEFENSE ATTORNEYS IN INFLUENCING JURY SELECTION. THE CONTENT OF THE TRIAL ITSELF TURNS AROUND THE EFFORTS OF THE DEFENSE TO MAINTAIN THE INNOCENCE OF THE ACCUSED ON THE BASIS OF TEMPORARY INSANITY AND THE PROSECUTION'S ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH GUILT BY ARGUING THAT THE DEFENDANT WILLFULLY PERPETRATED THE DEATHS. SEGMENTS OF THE TRIAL TRANSCRIPT CONSIDERED CENTRAL ARE INCLUDED IN THE TEXT. AFTER THE JURY'S VERDICT AND THE SENTENCING, THE AUTHORS INTERVIEWED THE ATTORNEYS ON THE VIEWS AND PERSONAL MOTIVES IN THE PROCEEDINGS. THE RULING IN AN APPEAL WHICH INVOLVED A REVERSAL OF THE TRIAL COURT AND A SUBSEQUENT REVERSAL OF THAT RULING IN THE NEXT APPELLATE COURT ARE REVIEWED. THE EPILOGUE TRACES THE FORTUNES OF THE PRINCIPAL ACTORS IN THE TRIAL SOME YEARS AFTER THE INCIDENT. (SNI ABSTRACT)