Reference no: EM131423033

Discuss the case as if you are part of the defense team in State v. Stu Dents and the defendant wants to plead insanity.

Write a 600 word paper in which you answer the following questions as a team:

• How do you feel this defendant is competent to stand trial? Why or why not?
• What is required in your state of California for an insanity defense?
• What steps must be taken to prove insanity?

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Case - State v. Stu Dents

Last year, on the mid-afternoon of October 18th, the defendant, Stu Dents, left his apartment on Main Street and drove to Broadway and 83rd. Two eyewitnesses say the defendant then walked through the Broadway Arms apartment building to his girlfriend's apartment, number 156, and entered the apartment.

It is unclear how the defendant entered the apartment, but no signs of force were evident. Witnesses could not say if the defendant used a key. The victim, Uma Opee, was not home at the time. Coworkers say Uma Opee was last seen when she left work at 5:10 p.m.

The body of the victim was found October 19th at 7:45 a.m. behind an abandoned building approximately 5 miles from her residence. The victim was found with cloth stuffed in her mouth, her arms and legs tied with rope restraints, having been stabbed to death.

Uma Opee worked at a music store within walking distance of her apartment. She had a previous criminal record that included shoplifting, drug possession and sale, assault, and disorderly conduct. Uma completed court-ordered rehabilitation just 2 months before her death.

The coroner determined that the victim was stabbed 13 times and bled to death at approximately 11:45 p.m. the evening of October 18th. Cuts and bruises were found on the victim's body as well as skin particles under her fingernails, signifying a struggle had occurred prior to her death. DNA tests were conducted on the skin particles under the victim's fingernails and matched the DNA samples of the defendant. A toxicology report showed there were no drugs in the victim's system at the time of her death.

The victim's apartment was found to have spots of blood on the carpeting in the living room as well as rope particles matching the rope used to tie the victim's hands and feet. A blue MDMA tablet, also known as ecstasy, with a "thumbs-up" imprint was found under a table in the living room as well as powder cocaine residue on the living room coffee table.

Upon a search of the defendant's home, detectives found ecstasy, cocaine, methamphetamine, and jewelry owned by the victim among the defendant's possessions. Among the jewelry found was an inscribed ring with the victim's name. The ring was later identified by coworkers as a ring the victim wore on a daily basis, including the day of her disappearance. A small bag containing blue ecstasy tablets, with a "thumbs-up" imprint, were found at the defendant's residence, which matched the tablet found at the victim's residence. In a locked room toward the back of the defendant's home, police found a wall completely covered with photographs of the victim. The photos were of Uma Opee in various locations and situations. Some photos appeared to have been taken without her knowledge. Police estimated over 300 photographs of the victim were stapled on the wall. Police also found love letters to the victim and a journal that was started 6 months prior to the incident. The journal included Stu Dents' name inside the front cover along with detailed events from his first meeting of the victim up to the night prior to the murder. Entries discussed purchasing rope, rags, and a sharp hunting knife "to fulfill [his] destiny." Many pages of the journal contained references to aliens, God, and the end of the world. The journal entries stopped on October 17th.

Enough evidence was obtained to make the arrest of Mr. Dents. Officers located Stu Dents on October 21st at 8:45 p.m. at a relative's home. When police officers tried to take him into custody, he began screaming about the end of the world and aliens working in the police force. He was extremely agitated, irrational, and combative. When Officer T. Chur began to handcuff him, the defendant punched the officer in the face and screamed, "Alien!" As officers subdued the defendant, he repeatedly yelled, "I am God, let me go! I am God!"

The toxicology report of the defendant showed no trace of illegal drugs at the time of arrest.

The state charges Stu Dents with the following:

• Homicide
• Assault of a police officer
• Kidnapping
• Burglary
• Crimes related to drugs