Dylann Roof's lawyers appeal death sentence citing autism
He has a strong need for order
Fundamentally, she seems to blame the autistic traits of SOCIAL ISOLATION + LITERALNESS + "Special interest" (Preoccupation).
She says: "Without input from competing views, Dylan went on online, and read and believed misinformation about African Americans and developed a strong preoccupation with racism".
You do realise if the court accepts this then it sends a message to the public that autism is a risk factor behind becoming a mass murderer or serial killer.
Much of roof's paranoia about African Americans could be explained by his schizophrenia which may be a more pertinent trigger
I think I have heard of obesity and other physical health as being an argument to not go through with the death penalty. It doesn't necessarily equate to everyone on blood pressure meds is a murderer.
Yes I am sure there is a checklist of conditions that might delay or prevent the death penalty. Plenty of murderers have been sent to psychiatric wards and then released back in the public without serving time. Some have gained notoriety and fame after their acts
https://timeline.com/tanya-tarasoff-not ... 43951cb004
https://allthatsinteresting.com/issei-sagawa
When a citizen's freedom or life is at stake the attorney that defends them has the right and the legal obligation to use any tool at his disposal to defend his client,that is the system.
There are two opposing pressures here
i) what the criminal justice system decides is sufficient evidence to say the person is not of "fit mind" to stand trial or whether the evidence in can reduce their sentence
ii) What rights does the defence counsel have to draw upon extenuating circumstances to either exonerate or reduce the sentence
He has a strong need for order
Fundamentally, she seems to blame the autistic traits of SOCIAL ISOLATION + LITERALNESS + "Special interest" (Preoccupation).
She says: "Without input from competing views, Dylan went on online, and read and believed misinformation about African Americans and developed a strong preoccupation with racism".
You do realise if the court accepts this then it sends a message to the public that autism is a risk factor behind becoming a mass murderer or serial killer.
Much of roof's paranoia about African Americans could be explained by his schizophrenia which may be a more pertinent trigger
What schizophrenia (delusions)?
His motivation comes from reading and believing material on the internet.
If anything, he seems simple-minded.

_________________
Then a hero comes along, with the strength to carry on, and you cast your fears aside, and you know you can survive.
Be the hero of your life.
He has a strong need for order
Fundamentally, she seems to blame the autistic traits of SOCIAL ISOLATION + LITERALNESS + "Special interest" (Preoccupation).
She says: "Without input from competing views, Dylan went on online, and read and believed misinformation about African Americans and developed a strong preoccupation with racism".
You do realise if the court accepts this then it sends a message to the public that autism is a risk factor behind becoming a mass murderer or serial killer.
Much of roof's paranoia about African Americans could be explained by his schizophrenia which may be a more pertinent trigger
What schizophrenia (delusions)?
His motivation comes from reading and believing material on the internet.
If anything, he seems simple-minded.

Yes but is this constellation of conditions sufficient to let him off death row? will he be sent back to psychiatric ward and then in the distant future be released?
i) what the criminal justice system decides is sufficient evidence to say the person is not of "fit mind" to stand trial or whether the evidence in can reduce their sentence
ii) What rights does the defence counsel have to draw upon extenuating circumstances to either exonerate or reduce the sentence
The defense has the right to try anything they can find to defend there client, whether or not it will work is a different story.
It's hard to say what is sufficient mitigation to reduce or commute a sentence,it varies from judge to judge and state to state.
_________________
Forever gone
Sorry I ever joined
This seems to be the crucial question when it comes to Dylan Roof who is now trying to pin his crime on autism. I have read that 70% of prisoners in the US system have some undiagnosed mental illness so Roof's diagnosis if validated by the judge could be a last ditch effort
This seems to be the crucial question when it comes to Dylan Roof who is now trying to pin his crime on autism. I have read that 70% of prisoners in the US system have some undiagnosed mental illness so Roof's diagnosis if validated by the judge could be a last ditch effort
I wouldn't say there trying to pin the crime on autism,there just looking for a mitigating factor to get a commutation to life in prison.Death penalty appeals attorney's don't generally get involved in innocence or guilt,just saving the life from a death sentence.There have been a few rare cases of death row exonerations but those came about usually because of DNA testing or a witness recanting there previous testimony.There is nothing so profound as that in Roof's case,he will die in prison either way.
_________________
Forever gone
Sorry I ever joined
I think the idea is; "hey he has autism, he is neurologically disabled, cut him a little bit of slack".
I think the idea is trying to evoke a little bit of sympathy.
_________________
Forever gone
Sorry I ever joined
It seems prejudice to single out autistic people and declare "NO AUTISM DEFENSE".
Almost nothing in this reality is absolute.
Abused, oppressed, laughed at, "wrong", "different" are surely possible casual factors for criminal behavior.
_________________
Then a hero comes along, with the strength to carry on, and you cast your fears aside, and you know you can survive.
Be the hero of your life.
Almost nothing in this reality is absolute.
Abused, oppressed, laughed at, "wrong", "different" are surely possible casual factors for criminal behavior.
_________________
Forever gone
Sorry I ever joined
ASPartOfMe
Veteran

Joined: 25 Aug 2013
Age: 67
Gender: Male
Posts: 38,095
Location: Long Island, New York
There is legitimate reason to fear that if the “autism defense” is used successfully to get people declared innocent by reason of insanity or lower sentences autistics will become widely seen as dangerous people. That would be worse then the “weird”, “loser”, or “ret*d” perceptions of us now.
If defense lawyers are successful with this tactic, more and more defense lawyers will use it and more as more and more autistic and psycho will be seen as synonymous. If the tactic fails defense lawyers will be discouraged from using it and it will be seen as trying to get bad people off on a technicality.
Any use of it propagates the people use autism as excuse for bad behavior stereotype. The right of people to be defended takes precedent but that does not mean the negative effects are not real thus we do have a duty to criticize careless use of the autism defense. There is a argument to be made that since autism is not known to directly cause criminal behavior any use of the autism defense is a careless use.
_________________
Professionally Identified and joined WP August 26, 2013
DSM 5: Autism Spectrum Disorder, DSM IV: Aspergers Moderate Severity.
“My autism is not a superpower. It also isn’t some kind of god-forsaken, endless fountain of suffering inflicted on my family. It’s just part of who I am as a person”. - Sara Luterman
If defense lawyers are successful with this tactic, more and more defense lawyers will use it and more as more and more autistic and psycho will be seen as synonymous. If the tactic fails defense lawyers will be discouraged from using it and it will be seen as trying to get bad people off on a technicality.
Any use of it propagates the people use autism as excuse for bad behavior stereotype. The right of people to be defended takes precedent but that does not mean the negative effects are not real thus we do have a duty to criticize careless use of the autism defense. There is a argument to be made that since autism is not known to directly cause criminal behavior any use of the autism defense is a careless use.
The legal system doesn't exist to be sensitive to people with disabilities or concern it self with how people are perceived by society.The defense has the right to use any defense it deems fit or most usefull as long as it is reasonable and plausable(meaning at least it's half way believable)that is how the system works.
From time to time judges have been known to rule a defense can't be used in court,one example being,the 2nd trial of the Menendez brothers.Where the judge ruled they could't use pre-emptive self defense as a defense,which left Leslie Abrahms without a defense for her clients and her clients were both convicted.
But for the most part judges give a lot of leeway for defense attorney's to use the defense they see fit as long as the defense is somewhat plausable.
_________________
Forever gone
Sorry I ever joined
You don't seem to acknowledge it.
It was obviously my mistake to think you're honest and invite you to have a dialogue.
I'm quite edified now about your willingness and/or ability to explain your position.
_________________
"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." Aldous Huxley
I think the idea is; "hey he has autism, he is neurologically disabled, cut him a little bit of slack".
Indeed - especially taking into account Roof's own words:
His lawyer is probably quite exasperated with his client

_________________
"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." Aldous Huxley
You don't seem to acknowledge it.
It was obviously my mistake to think you're honest and invite you to have a dialogue.
I'm quite edified now about your willingness and/or ability to explain your position.
I've explained my position over and over.
Most recently …
----------------------------------------------------------
It seems prejudice to single out autistic people and declare "NO AUTISM DEFENSE".
Almost nothing in this reality is absolute.
Abused, oppressed, laughed at, "wrong", "different" are surely possible casual factors for criminal behavior.
Likely, autistic people kill themselves because of these factors.
----------------------------------------------------------
Earlier, I even explained how abuse caused me to do a criminal action.
_________________
Then a hero comes along, with the strength to carry on, and you cast your fears aside, and you know you can survive.
Be the hero of your life.
Similar Topics | |
---|---|
death penalty possible despite autism diagnosis |
28 Apr 2025, 9:59 am |
Trump tariff lawsuit tossed, California says it will appeal |
09 Jun 2025, 7:16 pm |
Having Autism |
26 Apr 2025, 6:00 am |
My Autism Diagnosis: Then and Now |
29 Apr 2025, 12:29 pm |