May 15, 2001

10:40 AM

"the toothy smile is usually related to cannibalism" -- This 7 minute real audio NPR story on Russell Weston is a must listen. Three years ago Weston killed two capitol police officers, but he hasn't even been arraigned on the charges yet due to his paranoid schizophrenia. For a fascinating glimpse into his mind, listen to this story which includes audio excerpts from a 1997 interview with the CIA wherein he details his paranoid delusions regarding the "Ruby Satellite System" time machine and a conspiracy of cannibals.
posted by ericost (16 comments total)

Some more details of his CIA interview.

$500 to whoever can find the complete interview online, either in transcript or audio format.
posted by ericost at 10:56 AM on May 15, 2001

I heard the same thing this morning and had to pull over to write down some of those choice quotes...

What I don't understand (besides his ravings, and many other things) is that if he was insane at the time of the murders, how can he be tried now, even if he gets better?
posted by mimi at 11:07 AM on May 15, 2001

No transcript yet, but this is worth a look. I heard the NPR story twice this morning and I'd listen to it again. They'll be continuing with part two tomorrow.

I didn't know it was legal to medicate someone so they were competent to stand trial for a crime that was committed when they were, for lack of a better word, incompetent. I certainly don't feel it's ethical, but can any lawyers clarify for me why this might be OK legally?
posted by binkin at 11:07 AM on May 15, 2001

Couldn't find one (yet; and I was planning to buy a Palm m505 with the money too!), but here's a .pdf of his psychiatric evaluation.
posted by lia at 11:07 AM on May 15, 2001

Arrrghh. binkin beat me to that by seconds.
posted by lia at 11:08 AM on May 15, 2001

I'm not familiar with this case, but the standard for insanity - as in "the insanity defense" - is different than the standard for competence to stand trial. In other words, they want to have a trial, regardless of whether he was legally insane at the time of the killing or not. Until he is competent to stand trial, they can't have one.

Hope that makes sense.
posted by Outlawyr at 11:12 AM on May 15, 2001

At the end of the following PDF file is an address you can mail (or even email) to get (at a cost) a video tape of his CIA interview.

http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/98cr357c.pdf

Yes, this is the same PDF everyone has posted, but I actually read it. The last thing ordered is all videos and documentation are available from:

ITS, Inc.
1231 20th St., N.W.
Washington, D.C.
[phone]
[e-mail]
posted by dakotasmith at 11:17 AM on May 15, 2001

Oh, it's not the same PDF. It is the court order from the case, which is why no one had found the address before now.
posted by dakotasmith at 11:19 AM on May 15, 2001

the best way to get around the whole 'too insane to be punished for murder' thing?

if they're that crazy, tell them the electric chair is an amusement park ride.

or a time machine.

or the control chair for the brain of their favourite web-trend telly-tubby.

no need to thank me, just trying to help.
posted by jcterminal at 11:20 AM on May 15, 2001

I'm not sure, but I don't think that will get you a transcript of the CIA interview. I called the number and the lady I spoke with seemed to indicate that only the court documents are available. I also called NPR and spoke with Libby Lewis (sp?), who did the story this morning; she doesn't believe the transcript of the CIA interview is available to the general public.
posted by binkin at 11:24 AM on May 15, 2001

Here's a transcript.

(Email me re: the $$$.)
posted by ewagoner at 11:26 AM on May 15, 2001

D'oh! I take that back. Didn't realize it came back to the same page.
posted by ewagoner at 11:28 AM on May 15, 2001

Speaking of paranoid schizophrenia...
posted by harmful at 12:28 PM on May 15, 2001

I found the interview quite entertaining. If only this man could have just written novels instead of charging, guns blazing, into the time machine.
posted by y6y6y6 at 1:08 PM on May 15, 2001

Dibs on "Ruby Satellite System" as a band name.
posted by kindall at 6:49 PM on May 15, 2001

Sounds like a Zappa kid's name, doesn't it? "Ruby Satellite System Zappa."
posted by lia at 5:26 AM on May 16, 2001