People v. Kell

516 P.2d 875 (1973)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Valarie Dawn Kelly (D) was 18 when this crime was committed. D had used drugs since she was 15. When D was 18, she began taking LSD and mescaline regularly. She had been found wandering the airport in a drug-induced state and her mother picked her up and took her back to her apartment. The next morning D called her mother and asked to be driven to her home. D's mother noticed that the D was not there mentally and seemed to be disoriented. Shortly after breakfast D stabbed her mother with an array of kitchen knives, wounding her severely. At trial, experts testified that D had multiple personalities and had schizophrenia, but was normally a sane person. They also testified that after taking the drugs the D was unable to perceive reality and reason properly. This psychosis would remain even after the D was off the drugs. At trial, however, D was denied the defenses of insanity and unconsciousness and was found guilty. D appealed.