Saturday, September 18, 2010

Vehicular Homicide Trial: Not Guilty By Reason of Insanity


The following story from reporter Janice Morse at Cincinnati.com probably comes closest to succinctly illustrating true "not guilty by reason of insanity," in a remarkable context: 

"A judge has ruled a motorist was not guilty by reason of insanity in a crash that killed two people in Fairfield earlier this year.  Zaki Qayoumi, 27, of Springfield Township, was set for trial Wednesday in Butler County on two charges of aggravated vehicular homicide.

The trial was canceled after Judge Michael J. Sage ruled Qayoumi fit the legal definition of insanity. Psychological reports, which prosecutors couldn't refute, diagnosed him as manic and bipolar, with psychotic features, said Assistant Prosecutor David Kash.

Qayoumi has been sent to undergo further evaluation, and is scheduled for a Sept. 22 hearing when the judge will determine where Qayoumi will be sent to deal with his mental illness.

Qayoumi was charged in connection with a crash that occurred around 1 a.m. Feb. 21. His Toyota Camry was heading north on South Gilmore Road when it went through a red light and crashed into another Toyota Camry driven by Michael Willis, 57, of Maineville. Willis and his passenger, Teresa Cardish, 20, of Norwood, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Debris from the crash struck a third vehicle, causing minor injuries to that motorist, Bari Cruze of Cincinnati; Qayoumi also was injured.

After the crash, Qayoumi made 'totally nonsensical, incoherent statements,' Kash said.  Qayoumi told police he was on his way to a hospital to perform heart surgery -- but he is not a doctor, Kash said. When asked how the crash occurred, Qayoumi replied, 'It was like a typhoon.' And when asked why he was at the hospital, he said, 'To save the world.'"
______________________________________
This report captures that rare case where "lack of intent," is patent.  What a tragedy.

No comments:

Post a Comment