I think Wanda really is mentally ill — schizophrenic/psychotic/whatever — and can’t be held fully responsible for her actions. Based on recent reports from her mother, who released letters Wanda had written from prison, her tone has changed dramatically since she’s been on medication. Mitchell, on the other hand, appears to be just a garden variety sociopath, who not only doesn’t care how much he hurts people in the course of getting what he wants, but actually relishes it. He probably did some awful things to Wanda too, taking advantage of her mental illness in much the same way he took advantage of Elizabeth’s youth. Wanda probably belongs right where she is, in a secure mental institution under medication.
Mitchell should have been executed a long time ago. There’s something way wrong with our legal system when somebody can put on courtroom shows of uncontrollable mental illness and then be allowed to refuse medication. If he’s not menatlly ill, then he can control himself in the courtroom if he wants to, and if he’s mentally ill to the point of being unable to control himself, then he’s in no condition to be the judge of whether or not he needs medication. He’s figured out this idiotic loophole in our legal system and consciously exploited it.
I’m probably alone on this one; but I don’t care if they are crazy as a loon. I don’t care if in their culture, this sort of thing is typical and normal. I don’t care if they are a minority, had a rough childhood, lost a job or broke their shoelace.
You see, to my way of thinking, this is unfair to the person who knew what he was doing and did it anyway. Why should the person who knew evil be punished more than the nut job who didn’t?
Our criminal system exists to protect society. So, let’s save everyone some money, fasten some lead weights on these vermin and dump them in the Great Salt Lake and have them feed the brine shrimp for the long, cold winter months. This way, they can contriubute something back to society.