Case library · Insanity on Trial
The Heir and the Wrestler
Commonwealth v. duPont (1999)
Charge: Murder (defence of insanity)Court: Superior Court of PennsylvaniaState: PennsylvaniaDocket: Insanity on Trial
The facts
A very rich man owned a large estate with a wrestling training centre. A wrestler and coach who worked there lived on the estate. The rich man had grown paranoid. He believed people were spying on him and had turned against the coach. One winter day he drove to the coach's house and shot him three times with a revolver. His lawyers said he was insane: he believed he was Jesus Christ, the Dalai Lama and a Russian tsar. The law asks whether his illness stopped him knowing the act was wrong.
You have the facts the court had. Guilty or not guilty? Call it in the game with your friends, then see what the court actually decided. Wrong call, you drink.
Citation: Commonwealth v. duPont, 730 A.2d 970 (Pa. Super. 1999)
Read more at caselaw.findlaw.com. The source reveals the outcome.