People v. Kelly

516 P.2d 875 (1973)

Purchase the Printed Copy at bsmsphd.com

Nature of the Case

To access this section all you need to do is click here and register.

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.