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This is a hard situation to discuss I think, because while none of us would want to see an innocent person do time.... it can be rather hard to accept that she was innocent due to her state of mind.. or rather, guilty due to her state of mind, but otherwise innocent.
The deed was done, the kids are dead....now, if she had taken her own life, there wouldn't be much of a discussion... but she (and others like her) don't do themselves in, they kill their kids/spouses/random innocent folks in the street. This makes people cry when they watch the news....and it makes them want to make sure that it can't/won't happen again. Public opinion tends to bring a lot of "power" to what an elected person decides to do.
Maybe it is because I have no personal knowledge of mental illness (short of what I have experienced at work). I have found it difficult to believe the insanity defense in most of the cases we see it used. I do believe there should be a prison sentence to follow whatever mental health program is ordered for someone in cases like this.
My thoughts are twofold: one, they will not be able to come out and do it all over again and two, and a hope at best is that it will prevent a similar crime from being committed. Maybe another family will see the signs and get their person help, maybe someone else will see themselves in her story and get better help before it goes tragic.
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