Though he did get better.
Posted on 08/13/2025 2:58:53 PM PDT by nickcarraway
SNIP
Kirkland Evan Lehto, 27, sat motionless as Rogers' family described the effect of his murder, committed for reasons not even he could explain. He said he didn't remember pulling the trigger. He said "the voices, the witches" made him do it. Jurors rejected his insanity defense during his murder trial in June, but they didn't think the killing was premeditated, either. They convicted Lehto of second-degree murder instead, sparing him an automatic life sentence and leaving his penalty to the discretion of the judge. Lehto's family and team of public defenders urged Circuit Judge Daliah Weiss to sentence Lehto to 25 years. They argued that any longer would reduce his chance at rehabilitation and squander public resources.
Prosecutors recommended a life sentence and presented victim impact statements from Rogers' family — some of whom called his killer a "psychopath" and a "devil masquerading in human flesh."
"Each side wants either the minimum or the maximum," Weiss said at the conclusion of the three-hour sentencing hearing. "But the court doesn't find that either will be the sentence here." She sentenced Lehto to 40 years instead. Under Florida law, he must serve at least 25 years before becoming eligible for release.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
Shades of Dan White’s “diminished capacity” (aka, “the Twinkie defense”).
He can do the quarter standing on his head. By year 26 he will have murdered too many times to count. The Jury should have convicted him of First Degree, let him ride the needle and be done with it. As it now stands, numerous families in the future will pay the price of him doing what he does best.
At times, heading God’s voice telling you to do something has been successfully used as a defense. I recall the Court ruled if you did something because the Devil told you to, not so much, as you are NOT supposed tolisten to the devil. I think hearing witches telling you todo something is closer to the latter.
Very few insanity defenses are successful with skeptical juries in the past few years. 30 defendants a year try for the scam. Fewer than 1% succeed.
One of the summaries from a law office.
https://www.criminaldefensefla.com/blog/mental-illness-the-insanity-defense-statistics/
RE: hearing the voice....
“Why is it that when we talk to God we’re said to be praying, but when God talks to us we’re schizophrenic?”
―- Lily Tomlin
More proof the mental hospitals closed in the 1970s need to be reopened. When closed, and the crazies let loose on the streeets, mass murders took off like a rocket.
Does he...weigh the same as a duck?
Though he did get better.
And no, her being on the TV does not count.
Uh... how can both of these be true? If he doesn't remember, how does he know there were voices?
You aren’t supposed to pay attention to that.
You aren’t supposed to pay attention to that.
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