Comments about ‘Mitchell hearing ends with 2 sides split over competency to stand trial’

For crying out loud. He kidnapped and raped a little girl. It doesn't matter if he is competent or not, he should be held accountable for his heinous actions.

He should be held accountable, absolutely.

I don't care if he is "sane/compentent" or not. He should pay for his crimes regardless.

The very fact that Mitchell could stage-manage Dr. Skeem should be prima facia evidence of not only his sanity, but his ability to participate in his own defense. Participate? Good Lord, he has pulled all of the levers from the very beginning, while calling out "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."
Are they taking applications for jury foreman? As a father of four daughters, I beg for the chance ....

Brian David Mitchell needs to grow out of his delusional and manipulative shells and be a real defendant in the courthouse.

Situational ethics here?

From the Trib: Skeem also acknowledged that at one point Mitchell had a clear awareness of ongoing plea negotiations and that he wanted a deal that included no sex-assault charges.

"He thought [that without the sex charges] people might be more open to receiving his [religious] message," Skeem said.
------Seems like he was 'rational enough' to not want sex assault charges! Are you kidding? Seems to me like he was just looking for less time and she bought it. More time was "hostile." I bet "rational" drug dealers thing 15 yrs to life is "hostile" too!

How many psychologist and psychiatrist need to evaluate him before he can pay for his horrid crimes? Get on with the trial, it is so sad for the Smart family to not even enjoy their daughter on a mission or be able to move on with their life together, without that mean, mean man!

I note that Skeem used the term "we". That by itself shows bias and lack of professional detachment and therefore her opinion is tainted and invalid. Such a shame that medical opinion can apparently be 'bought' rather than be based on factual diagnosis.

happened to plain old common sense? All of this psychology stuff is mostly personal opinion - and the very fact that so called "experts" can differ so widely is evidence that Psychology is not a science, but an art. And the artists perform either for the prosecution or for the defense - because they are chosen for their opinions and not for their scientific knowledge.

Common sense demands that the punishment should fit the crime. And, in this case, any sensible person would demand the maximum penalty with the obvious observation that this man deserves it - regardless of the psychological game of playing lawn tennis with high sounding words, while the perpertrator of the crime continues to pull the strings in the background.

Please, let us stop looking for ways to protect the rights of the "guilty" while we neglect the rights of the "innocent".

I vote for the maximum penalty with the premise that, regardless of his so called lack of competence now, his behavior when he committed his multiple crimes displays without question that he knew he was breaking the law and getting away with it at that time.

Under true justice, he should get the death penalty.

Good post. I noticed that too and it bothered me immediately.

Apparently Skeem doesn't understand the role dishonesty and narcissism can play in delusional speech and behavior.

It is not that Mitchell doesn't understand. Rather it is his willful refusal - in his dishonesty, and in his narcissism - to accept that which he clearly does understand.

This is why he is plugging his ears and looking away at the hearing and why he is choosing to not assist in his own defense.

"It's possible to be fooled. … I don't think it happened here," Skeem said. "I don't think I got this one wrong. It's possible, but I think it is highly unlikely."
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The next Wanda Bareze.

Since the "experts" disagree let the people who lived and worked with him prevail. Elizabeth says he's (among other things)manipulative, plodding, and able to "make travel arrangements"! The workers at the state psych. hospital also, I believe, testified that he was rational "when no one was looking".

I can't believe the legal system allows itself to be manipulated this badly! They SHOULD BE shamed!!

Not only does he not want to go to prison (since there are many there waiting to do him harm), but he is also motivated to stay crazy so he can participate in karaoke night, watch Charmed all he wants, and keep his beard. Sounds like a great life! Who wouldn't want to play crazy to keep that gig going? What is this teaching other criminals? Just sing in the courtroom and you can play around for a few years at the mental hospital? By the time a trial comes around (if ever) there will not be a viable juror within 1000 miles of here, and we'll be in for another few years of delay while they work on that problem. He is so guilty and everyone knows it. Why even have a trial? Declare him competent and the next day, declare him guilty.... bye-bye karaoke.

I am a-shamed of this Dr Skeem, pronounced scheme by coincidence. She is more interested in defending her stupid analysis than in doing the right thing here. Why can't she use her own logic to say that he's a cold, calculating skeem-er who manipulated her and the system. As she's become more aware of him, she should know moer, not less. Almost every line printed of her testimony indicates that he DOES know what he's doing. He's very skilled and competent - certainly enough to stand trial. It's so obvious that it makes Dr. Skeem look like the dumbest one in the courtroom. Sheesh! Let's let her evaluate all the loonies out there. They'll all be set free.

I am comfortable arguing that Mitchell should be locked away regardless of competence. I am comfortable disagreeing with Dr. Skeem on her assessment. I am not comfortable suggesting that she has ulterior motives. I suspect that Dr. Skeem is a competent and dedicated professional who has judged according to her training and observation. As armchair psychologists, I don't think we are qualified to question her judgment in the case. Given that their is disagreement among the experts, I would let the jury decide. I am confident that our system will come to the right conclusion in this case and that I have no need to criticize someone who is just trying to do her job to the best of her ability.

There is no jury trial if this competency hearing results in declaration that he is NOT competent. Dr. Skeem's arguments don't hold water because every point that she makes contridicts her conclusion that he is not fit for trial.

In keeping up with the media reports of this case, I honestly think both sides have brought forth good arguments. The defense actually gave a much better argument than I was expecting them to. If Mitchell truly is willing to allow himself to be given a maximum sentence due to his delusions, it would be unfair according to our justice system to allow him to do that to himself without attempting to help him come to a full, RATIONAL understanding of that punishment, even though in either case he will likely get the maximum sentence for what he has done. However, if he is doing nothing but playing the system as at first it may seem he is doing, he definitely deserves to begin his punishment as soon as possible. In the meantime, I'm sure the Smart family will continue to count their blessings, and those who have all the facts will come to a much more informed decision than any of us could as to whether Mitchell is competent or not.

dirtbags who kidnap and rape young girls have forfeited the right to freedom. He should be locked up for life.