...the case is not closed....I am not a psychologist but I have a Masters Degree in Psych....and I can tell you that in severe cases, you can know what you did was wrong but so psychotic that you are compelled to do the act...at the time knowing you are doing the right thing...and at the same time, knowing was wrong.....hard to explain but unless you have studied or been around mental illness, I can tell you it is a tough nut.....I don't want to make excuses for anyone, but you are thinking of this in a rational mind, where those that are truly sick...do not have that luxury....so ....the case is closed....but not in what you elaborated on.....
You're correct. I am a psychologist (though I don't do clinical work) and I'm generally pretty tough on criminals. I've read what's out there on her condition and I'm convinced that she was extremely mentally ill at the time. She had postpartum psychosis - which is different than postpartum depression. Years ago Charles Krauthaumer (not sure I'm spelling his name right) had an excellent editorial explaining why he thought Andrea Yates should be found not guilty by reason of insanity (this might have been during the first trial). He did a great job explaining what, as you say, is hard to explain. The best analogy I can come up with is breaking the speed limit to get a sick person to the hospital. You know that you are doing something wrong and breaking the law, but you are doing it to save a life, so it is the "right thing" to do.