Local News, Mark Becker
Mark Becker will undergo another psych evaluation
Posted on Aug 27, 2009 by Admin.
ALLISON — A judge has granted the state’s request to have a separate psychiatric evaluation conducted on Mark Becker on Friday, according to an order filed late this afternoon in Butler County District Court.
Becker, 24, of Parkersburg, is accused of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Aplington-Parkersburg football coach Ed Thomas on June 24.
Becker’s attorney on Tuesday filed a motion arguing Becker was incompetent to stand trial because of mental disorders.
Second Judicial District Judge Stephen Carroll also set a probable cause hearing 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in Mason City. The hearing will determine if probable cause exists to have a compentency hearing, which is tentatively set 9:30 a.m. Sept. 10 in Mason City.
I took an abnormal psych class at community college… Let me evaluate him. He's perfectly sane and committed premeditated murder. Simple as that.
I took an abnormal psych cla.ss at community college. Let me evaluate him. He's perfectly sane and he committed premeditated murder. Simple as that.
If I had known that it took only one class, I could have saved myself all that time and money it took to get those sheepskins.
Wait, I had a biology class, maybe I can practice medicine.
The defense's chosen psychiatrist had a crack at him; let the state's guy check him, too. Then the judge can decide which of the 2 docs is right and move the case forward accordingly.
As long as they don't turn him loose and say "he WAS crazy but he's all better now that we treated him", we'll know the system is working.
The real argument isn’t whether or not he was sane or not. Anyone that commits a crime is to a degree insane. That’s clear due to the utter impossibility of society where everyone is a criminal; it’s insane. The real concerns are: What was the real cause of the situation? The guy was using drugs, and drugs are known to cause dilusions and halucinations as well as homocidal and suicidal thoughts and actions. Did he willingly take those drugs? Sure. Was he tricked into thinking they would help him? Sure. It still doesn’t absolve him of resposibility for his actions. The only link anyone has to escape from responsibility for their actions is to plead insane. Remember the twinkie defense? Sure, if you don’t take care of your body, you’ll experience halucinations or other mental phenomena. I know of a guy that ate nothing but spagetti noodles and began experiencing some mental problems. But still, who is responsible? The guy who didn’t take care of himself!