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Brain Scans Used In Murder Sentencing

sciencehabit writes "For what may be the first time, fMRI scans of brain activity have been used as evidence in the sentencing phase of a murder trial. Defense lawyers for an Illinois man convicted of raping and killing a 10-year-old girl used the scans to argue that their client should be spared the death penalty because he has a brain disorder. Some experts say the scans are irrelevant because they were taken 20+ years after the crimes were committed. Others point out that the scans are only being considered because the sentencing phase of a trial has less stringent standards about evidence than those used to establish a defendant's innocence or guilt." In the Illinois case, the fMRI defense didn't help the defendant, whom a jury sentenced to death.

4 of 328 comments (clear)

  1. Re:OK slashdot. by Penguinisto · · Score: 4, Funny

    Err, what if he's thinking about Chewbacca? Might even get him acquitted.

    --
    Quo usque tandem abutere, Nimbus, patientia nostra?
  2. Glenn Beck? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    At first I thought this could have something to do with those Glenn Beck rumors (not that I believe them, but it is strange that he hasn't denied them), but then I got to this part:

    fMRI scans of brain activity

    Never mind.

  3. Re:Nature versus Nurture by gyrogeerloose · · Score: 2, Funny

    In Canada, we put them out on the ice flows

    Funny, that's exactly how the health care system works here in the U.S.

    --
    This ain't rocket surgery.
  4. Re:Capital Punishment by Spykk · · Score: 4, Funny

    You are no better than a rapid dog and deserve to be treated accordingly.

    Forced to chase a mechanical bunny around a race track?