Autism as a Defense in Murder Case
The defense lawyer of suspect Bryan Kohberger argues that his autism should prevent him from facing the death penalty for the murders of University of Idaho students. Legal experts believe autism may be mitigating but unlikely to prevent the death penalty.
Key Points
- Bryan Kohberger's defense argues that his autism reduces his culpability and should prevent the death penalty.
- Legal experts believe autism alone will not prevent the application of the death penalty.
- Idaho law does not have an insanity defense or allow mental conditions to be a defense.
Pros
- Autism may be considered a mitigating factor in the penalty phase of the trial.
Cons
- Autism is not typically seen as a defense against capital punishment in legal precedent.
- Prosecutors aim to block expert testimony on Kohberger's neuropsychological and psychiatric evaluations.