Criminal Law Keyed to Johnson
State v. Jones
Facts
Larry Jones (Defendant) was charged with second-degree assault with a firearm. Due to unusual statements Defendant made, the court ordered an evaluation of his competency to stand trial. Several psychiatrists expressed their views that Defendant was competent, but was also a paranoid schizophrenic who was insane when he committed the assault. Based on the evaluations, the court found Defendant competent to stand trial. The state moved for the court to enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity (NGI) over Defendant’s objection. The court granted the motion, stating that there was a serious danger of conviction without assertion of the plea. The case proceeded to trial, and after Defendant presented his case, the state introduced psychiatric testimony to prove Defendant’s insanity. The jury received instructions on both self-defense and insanity, and found Defendant not guilty by reason of insanity. Defendant was committed to a state mental institution and appealed. The court of appeals affirmed, and Defendant again appealed.
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