"Narcoanalytic interview" approved by Holmes judge
March 12, 2013 2:35 PM Subscribe
The defendant in the deadly Colorado theater shooting could be given "truth serum" under a court order issued Monday... Suspect James Holmes could be required to submit to a "narcoanalytic interview" as part of an evaluation to determine if he was legally insane at the time of the July 20 shootings, Arpahoe County District Judge William Sylvester said. A narcoanalylitic interview is a decades-old process in which patients are given drugs to lower their inhibition. Academic studies have shown that the technique has involved the use of sodium amytal and pentothal, sometimes called truth serum.
This post was deleted for the following reason: A post about the history/policy/science/woo of narcoanalysis could be pretty interesting, but as is this is just kind of a thin bit of criminal-news-of-the-weird. -- cortex
If this doesn't work, maybe get a recovered memories specialist.
posted by rhizome at 2:37 PM on March 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 2:37 PM on March 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Indeed. If you wanted to make sure the case goes before the supreme court, that's how you do it.
posted by dlg at 2:38 PM on March 12, 2013
posted by dlg at 2:38 PM on March 12, 2013
oooh! let's read their tarot next!
posted by radiosilents at 2:38 PM on March 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by radiosilents at 2:38 PM on March 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Kind of funny how the AP story has been recycled by most major print news outlets in the States and around the world.
Kind of nightmarish, really, considering how the "news" mindlessly becomes "news" without any real reflection or attempts by the various actors to add value each time the same story is recycled and spun.
posted by KokuRyu at 2:38 PM on March 12, 2013
Kind of nightmarish, really, considering how the "news" mindlessly becomes "news" without any real reflection or attempts by the various actors to add value each time the same story is recycled and spun.
posted by KokuRyu at 2:38 PM on March 12, 2013
This seems like a pretty questionable idea that's going to create a lot of appeals.
posted by GuyZero at 2:38 PM on March 12, 2013
posted by GuyZero at 2:38 PM on March 12, 2013
If you wanted to make sure the case goes before the supreme court, that's how you do it.
Could you explain?
posted by KokuRyu at 2:39 PM on March 12, 2013
Could you explain?
posted by KokuRyu at 2:39 PM on March 12, 2013
We know he did it. This will just be an excuse to get him to say whatever the cops want under psychological torture to replace whatever the real causes/underlying motivations of the shooting were with 'the Devil made me do it'. And if he's just an irredeemable sociopathic than there's no need to examine our mental health system or societal institutions.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 2:40 PM on March 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 2:40 PM on March 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Could you explain?
A defendant has the right to, among other things, not testify. Giving them a drug that undermines their ability to not testify would, I presume, give grounds for appeal for the violation of that right.
posted by zippy at 2:41 PM on March 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
A defendant has the right to, among other things, not testify. Giving them a drug that undermines their ability to not testify would, I presume, give grounds for appeal for the violation of that right.
posted by zippy at 2:41 PM on March 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
Presumably they will use a dowsing rod to confirm he's had the right dose of narcoanalylitics.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 2:41 PM on March 12, 2013
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 2:41 PM on March 12, 2013
This is like many other problems in the criminal justice system in that it stems from the desire for retributive justice. People cannot accept the possibility of finding Holmes insane because they believe it is vital to take revenge on him.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:42 PM on March 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:42 PM on March 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
The serum was developed by Doctor Jonathan Crane and will be administered by prison administratior Hugo Strange.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 2:43 PM on March 12, 2013
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 2:43 PM on March 12, 2013
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posted by Repack Rider at 2:36 PM on March 12, 2013 [1 favorite]