1. An insanity defense of sorts. 2. An insanity defense has rarely if ever been used in federal courts, legal observers say. 3. Another option available to Sappington would be to file a motion setting the stage for an insanity defense, Gorman said. 4. Arrested at the scene, McDermott has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of murder and his lawyer has said he may pursue an insanity defense. 5. As strong as the insanity defense might have been, observers said, juries in these cases rarely choose acquittal. 6. At the hearing, federal prosecutors asked U.S. District Court Judge Charles Richey to order the defense to declare immediately whether Duran will assert an insanity defense. 7. At trial, a defendant can raise the so-called insanity defense, arguing that because of mental illness, he was not responsible for his actions. 8. Bailey pressed for a speedy trial for DeSalvo on charges of burglary, assault and rape, opting to test the insanity defense in that case. 9. A classic insanity defense states that the defendant did not know right from wrong. 10. A determination of competency is different from a diagnosis of mental illness that could be used as a legal insanity defense. |