'Hiccup Girl' Charged With First-Degree Murder

[cavegal]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/10/25/hiccup-girl-charged-degree-murder/

A Florida teenager whose uncontrollable hiccups once brought her worldwide attention was arrested and charged with murder, MyFoxTampaBay.com reports.

[thundley4]

Megyn Kelly hypothesized that she could plead insanity.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Insanity would be a viable defense for someone who flew off the handle in a rage.  This was a planned robbery that went bad.  While it's not clear she had any idea it would end in murder, it was pretty damn' clear she knew it was an armed robbery plot, which since it ended in murder of the victim, means all the plotters are potentially in for felony murder charges.  I don't see insanity keeping her out of the can for that.

Also this is a sterling example of the fact that just because someone has a pitiable disability, that doesn't mean they can't be a dirtbag otherwise.

[thundley4]

I think Megyn Kelly was implying that the woman may have been made a little crazy by the hiccups, even though  a couple of years had passed.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Assuming she really ever dealt with a full-blown insanity case when she was practing, I expect what she meant was that some shyster would try to raise insanity as an issue, but really the situation is a million miles away from making out a credible insanity defense.  I expect it'll fail miserably in the guilt phase, but then the defense will raise it in sentencing again on the theory that her evil co-conspirators took advantage of fragile, damaged hiccup-girl for their vile and murderous plan, all unbeknownst to her, and she should therefore get off with a minimal sentence.  Such is the way the game is played.

On edit:  The '...ever dealt with...' is no slur on the beautiful, talented, and intelligent Ms. Kelly, but full-bore insanity defenses are much less common in criminal trials than the vast majority of people believe, it's not uncommon for someone who practices for only a few years to never experience one; issues of a defendant's competency to stand trial, which is something completely different, are a lot more common.

[Eupher]

I guess it's safe to conclude that, apart from all the legal wrangling, this waif and first class knucklehead no longer has a hiccup problem.

That being the case, watch her defense attorneys give her a cold soda at her sentencing. The reaction just may result in another attack. That'll hold sway over the judge and jury.   

[thundley4]

The lawyer is trying some sort of "diminished capacity" defense.

[Revolution]

Does anyone remember exactly how long her bout of hiccups lasted? The defense could actually try a "lack of oxygen to the brain could have contributed" defense. That all depends on how long the hiccups lasted though.

Side Note: Don't know why, but everytime I see the world "hiccup" printed, I 

[JohnnyReb]

Side Note: Don't know why, but everytime I see the world "hiccup" printed, I 

Don't be laughing...32 "hiccup" was my X-wifes' bra size.

[vesta111]

Insanity would be a viable defense for someone who flew off the handle in a rage.  This was a planned robbery that went bad.  While it's not clear she had any idea it would end in murder, it was pretty damn' clear she knew it was an armed robbery plot, which since it ended in murder of the victim, means all the plotters are potentially in for felony murder charges.  I don't see insanity keeping her out of the can for that.

Also this is a sterling example of the fact that just because someone has a pitiable disability, that doesn't mean they can't be a dirtbag otherwise.

And a high 5 to you Mr. Tanker.

Quote/

Also this is a sterling example of the fact that just because someone has a pitiable disability, that doesn't mean they can't be a dirtbag otherwise.

Yup-O, disabilities are the in fad at this time.

Insanity is difficult to prove as we saw with Jeffery Dormer and the 10 Doctors that swore he had done nothing that any sane person would not do.   ??????????????????????   

 Will some one get those old heads out of my freezer, and get out some onions for a liver luncheon.

Out of curiosity, how many years ago were the rules for a defendant to claim insanity, either temporary or as a disability ??

If a Muslim kills a daughter for not wearing a head scarf and that is the rule in their culture, is that Man insane.??  If a 3 year old girl is sexually mutilated with a sharp piece of glass as was done to the mother, grandmother and for 1500 years down the line, are the female members of her family who live in the USA criminals or insane.?

One of the rules on insanity are that if a person comits a crime and does not know they are doing wrong, they can be considered insane.

On the other hand ignorance of the law is no excuse.

Russia has an interesting take on criminal's but there is no link only a friend that came here from Russia.  She says there are no jails or were none when she left, only hospitals for the insane as one would have to be nuts to commit any kind of crime.

For another thought, what is sanity in the first place??

[RightCoast]

Megyn Kelly hypothesized that she could plead insanity.

If Megyn says it, it must be true. Damn you all for disagreeing.