Question

Miller claimed to be sane before and after the killing but insane during the time the crime was committed. His attorneys asked that, at the end of the trial, the jury be instructed on the issue of temporary insanity and that they be told that "regardless of its duration, legal insanity that existed at the time of the commission of the crime is a defense to the crime." Why do you think that the trial court refused to give the jury instructions regarding the insanity defense, which the defendant wished to have communicated?

Answer 1

Answer: the court refused to give the jury instructions on temporary insanity because they did not recognize it as a defense in Nevada and had no legal proof to use it as the defense for Miller. Based on the evidence from the doctors, the jury would have reached a unanimous verdict that Miller was in fact insane.