Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

mercy killing

what would be the best defense for a man that killed some one out of love due to the fact that the person they killed was mentally retarded and they thought it would save the person a lot of pain and greif if they just went ahead and ended the persons life .the man that was killed out of love had just killed a woman on accident and other people were going to kill him any way for killing the woman? (the two men where friends. they worked and traveled together never harsh towards each other no evidence that the man was killed out of hatred)


Asked on 4/17/02, 11:13 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Victor Hobbs Victor E. Hobbs

Re: mercy killing

The best defense would be insanity. Or as my Dad used to call it, 'Redneck stupidity.' You don't kill someone, to save someone else from killing him, and depriving them of the pleasure. There are legally defense able reasons to kill someone. Personal defense, and combat for your country are the two that come to mind. The relationship between these two men was very involved, and had some very bazaar psychological overtones. The attorney that handles the case will have to work very diligently in an attempt to get the charges reduced to some level of manslaughter. Hopefully the defense will be able to save his life and the criminal defendant will not suffer the ultimate. The loss of his life to the state.

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Answered on 4/17/02, 5:18 pm


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