Insanity as a Defense

Archive Report

Insanity Defense in Ruby Murder Trail

The Murder Trial of Jack Ruby (born Rubenstein), scheduled to open in Dallas on Feb. 3, will focus world attention on a continuing debate among lawyers and psychiatrists over the merits of various legal formulas on the use of insanity as a defense against criminal charges. Ruby's lawyers have announced that the defendant, accused of killing Lee Harvey Oswald, alleged assassin of President Kennedy, will plead not guilty by reason of insanity.1 The insanity plea is familiar in cases where there is incontrovertible proof that the accused committed the murder of which he is charged. There is strong likelihood that if Oswald had lived and had confessed that he killed the President, a like plea would have been entered ...

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