[HPforGrownups] Sympathy for Voldemort?

[MadameSSnape at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 59098

In a message dated 5/31/2003 5:17:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
patricia at obscure.org writes:

> Actually, serial killers are frequently imprisoned or put to death here in
> the US.  The standards for legal insanity vary from state to state, but in
> no state does the mere fact that someone committed murder, even
> repeatedly, mean that that person is necessarily insane and thus exempt
> from incarceration or execution.

In most states, I believe the applicable standard for determining legal (as 
opposed to actual - they're two different concepts) insanity is the "M'Naughton 
Rule", which asks not whether the perp believes the action he took was wrong, 
but rather whether s/he knew that SOCIETY AS A WHOLE believes the action to 
be wrong.  It's why David Berkowitz, Mark David Chapman, & Charlie Manson & his 
Family are all wearing prison uniforms.

Clearly, Voldie & the Death Eaters are well aware that society considers what 
they do to be heinous - therefore, they are legally sane by US standards - 
anyone care to weigh in on how it's done in the UK?

Sherrie
(19½ years employee, DOC)


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