A Kentucky man accused of strangling his wife is poised to claim excessive caffeine from sodas, energy drinks and diet pills left him so mentally unstable he couldn’t have knowingly killed her…
Woody Will Smith, 33, is scheduled for trial starting today on a murder charge in the May 2009 death of Amanda Hornsby-Smith, 28.
Defense attorney Shannon Sexton filed notice with the Newport court of plans to argue his client ingested so much caffeine in the days leading up to the killing that it rendered him temporarily insane — unable even to form the intent of committing a crime…
Reports and case records say during that time, he was drinking five or six soft drinks and energy drinks a day, along with taking diet pills; it all added up to more than 400 milligrams of caffeine a day.
Prosecutor Michelle Snodgrass said Smith tested negative for amphetamine-type substances shortly after the killing…
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders — published by the American Psychiatric Association showing standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders — defines overdose as more than 300 mg. That’s about three cups of coffee.
More than three cups of coffee classifies you as loony, overdosed on coffee?
Har! That explains the behavior of half the geeks in the world.
The old “Why the hell not?” defense. At least the lawyer gets some airtime.
A long time ago, my Dad was hospitalized for caffeine intoxication. He’d start the day off with a lot of coffee then switch to strong iced tea for the afternoon.
He never killed me.
#22 I take your point. Fry the layer and his client.
Okay that was flippant.
This isn’t. I believe in the right of self defense and the defense of others.
This doesn’t meet the test and if he still understood right from wrong then wrongfully taking a life means forfeiting your own life. The concept of blood debt may seem primitive and crude but to me it seems just.
I’m not going to forgive murder because that is making the life of the victim as of no account and puts the victims blood on my hands. I didn’t kill them but if I condone the killing I’m just as guilty as the person that did.
Good post, but have you thought about Turning business success and expertise into second half significance – without abandoning either. before?
#22 Marsupial – I believe your Dad was just trying to drink enough courage to do the deed. I hope he’s doing all right. I encourage him to get back on the horse. Remember, “Quitters never win and winners never quit.”.
Now, have a cup on me.
>> Maricopa said, on September 20th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
>> A long time ago, my Dad was hospitalized for caffeine intoxication.
Wow. Hospitalized for it! OK, he didn’t kill you but did it affect his personality?
Cases like your dad’s will probably be brought at the trial of this guy.
At first they thought it was a heart attack so he spent a day in ICU but then just another day in the regular room while they flushed him out. He never went cuckoo. And they won’t be calling him as a witness unless they have one amazing process server! Like I said this was a looong time ago.
OK, Buddy! Put down the triple Latte and back away from the counter. Nice and easy now. And keep your hands where I can see them!
The jury’s verdict – “You go f’coffee to jail where you belong.”
Maricopa,
So, I gather, it didn’t change his mental state — just his heart.
Yeah, you’re right. His case could be used probably be used by the prosecutor.
I drink too much coffee sometimes and it does affect my mental state some — induces a little ADD I suppose.
That guy who killed lee harvey milk used the Twinky defense. Look it up.