Another murderer who happens to be an Aspie

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I can't believe nobody else has picked up on this yet:

Link Here to Sky News Article

As an aside, because I didn't make myself clear, assuming the verdict is correct I'm glad they caught him and will lock him up for a very long time. I'm also sad that the family of that poor girl and the little girl herself suffered so much.

These things shouldn't happen. But it's no excuse to start making out all Aspies are potential murderers, because we're clearly not.

As a further clarification (it's late and I'm tired!), I think the article was pretty fair, but they didn't really have to make such a big deal of the Asperger's.

I was more mad at my wife for making the link between scary aspie=scary behaviour, because if she's doing it, imagine what the people who know nothing about autism other than what they read in the papers are saying?

I'm far more likely of protecting someone than I am of murdering them...

People (as a collective term) don't understand people who goes against what they consider normal, and they fear what they don't understand... They also love to group and stereotype... (Just look at US's prevailing opinion on Muslims)
To have a murderer who happens to have a mental "illness" is almost giving them two reasons to fear them, and all people with that mental "illness"
It's frustrating when I can be almost free of prejudice, but no one around me can be...

:: sighs ::

GA

Hmm, I'm not so sure. We do seem to be prone to snapping and going off our rocker. I can recall a couple of occasions when I might have killed someone, had I not been pulled off them, after I've broken down. Reduced to the point where I was on the street choking my brother, chanting that he must die. But I do agree that it doesn't contribute to premeditated or deliberate murder, but it can contribute to killing someone.

Way to go Danlo...

Anyone ever read Ender's Game? I think, like Ender, in self defence Aspies can be pretty brutal...

GA

It seems from what I've read about murderers and other violent criminals, their criminal nature most likely isn't directly linked with AS. Studies have come to show that murderers are often made rather than born (and even when born, it likely isn't related to AS), and that this happens a young age, before the traits of AS have much of an affect on a person (that is, before they reach school age). From birth through early childhood the brain is still developing, and when such a child is subjected to neglect, abuse, or other types of trauma, the brain stem-the part of the brain responsible for aggression and violence-develops and enlarges more than it would in a child who does not have the same experiences. I am not certain of this (I have a really good article on this subject but don't have it on me unfortunately) but I think it has a negative impact on the growth and development of the prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for our inhibitions and controlling our actions) as well, which, in combination with the enlarged brain stem, will end up being quite a dangerous brain structure. This will affect the child throughout their childhood-they'll often start fires, demonstrate cruelty to animals and other children, and become bed-wetters (in fact, these three traits are what is known as the homicidal triad because they are strong signs of a predisposition for violent crime). Issues such as difficulty in relationships, difficulty in work, negative experiences with people, violent games etc. can exacerbate things by acting as "triggers" for violent behavior or contributing to the obsessive fantasies many killers have (and this obsessiveness is common among many violent criminals regardless of whether or not they have AS, and is therefore probably not directly related, although the obsessiveness that can come with AS could make it worse) but if the person who experiences these things acts violently, chances are the damage was done long before that, when they were small children. I know I kind of rambled on here but I guess what I'm saying is that from what we know of violent criminals it isn't really accurate to link AS with violent acts such as murder and doing so not only has the potential to deeply hurt the AS community, but it detracts from the real issues and the real causes for violent behavior which is what we should be focusing on to prevent such tragedies from ever occuring. I really think that this type of thing is preventable and that knowledge of why violent criminals become the way they are and how we can stop it can and will save lives.

Meh, the media is always going to mention autism if it's there cause it makes a better news story. Just like they will continue to mention Schizophrenia, Bipolar, a cleft-lip, or even two-left feet.

People want all the juicy crud and someone with autism killing another person is juicier than just a faceless person without anything like autism killing a person. And so the media gives 'em what they want.

We blame the media (I know I do for providing such things 24/7), but if they didn't get results (i.e., the people didn't want to see that kinda stuff) they would use different tactics and show something else. Whatever gets them the ratings. Sigh.

I myself could completely snap if the right person(s) said/did the right thing(s). My guess is the girl made him snap and he basically had a murderous tantrum. Logic gets really distorted when you're past your breaking point. I agree with the thought of extreme lonliness making you more likely to become violent, but this seems too simple. I don't know if she really be put in jail, perhaps a psych ward would be more approriate? Anyone who kills a 10 year old for no apparent reason needs to see a shrink.

People on the autistic spectrum who may harbor homocidal or other deviant thoughts may be comforted by a story such as this to know they are not alone in having these feelings. In reading the backround of this young man, we cannot make any sure deductions, but it's not far-fetched to think his autism was a primary cause of his leaving school at a young age and journey into fantastic isolation, which may have led to this incident. That seemed obvious to me anyhow.

but why the twigs up the nose?...I mean,what the hell is that about?

and did someone see him do these things or did he admit it

I agree with those who said it's possibly related to his AS. If I snap I SNAP!!, not just snap, so if I cross the line where my emotions overwhelm my ability to see straight it could be murder instead of a b***h fight because of the inability to balance emotions analoguously like NTs apparently find it easier to do, and also, with the inability to cope with people and still a crave for social contact like he must've had since he hung out with them, any negative thought he gets may be harder to forget since it's easier to repeat unacceptable things in ones head with AS unless one has someone else to talk to, but is instead dragged deeper down and get more and more confirmation of the negative aspect one has. If no one understands him, it's understandable he'd have a very negative view of people and where a bad situation can lead if it's not stopped. It could've been panic when he reacted and after that all the years of aggression came out and he mutilated her as well.
And lastly, to my mind it's always been why someone does something much rather than what someone does that matters. Is that an aspie treat? In that case that's another argument.
But on the other hand, it seems like I have a block, that no matter how angry I get I can't hurt someone permanently, like breaking a bone or damaging an eye or something like that, but simply scare the person from never doing that again so I don't have to worry about it. It would take a lot to cross that line indeed.

I have a similar safety guard as Malaclypse. I will say pretty much anything verbally abusive (unfortunately) but generally avoid "getting physical," which is not only good in and of itself but good because I'd lose almost any fight, I think.

He 'left' school at 13? As in, dropped out? Had no job, and just played games and watched TV most of the time?

WHERE WERE THE F***ING PARENTS??

A little off topic, I know, since it probably has nothing to do with his motive to kill. But that just blows my mind.

I do agree that his AS could have lead to loneliness and depression if he didn't seek help or try to help himself. And that, in turn, could play a mere factor in what he did.