What the hell is wrong with people?

[White92]

This is a story on CNN.com today...

A knife-wielding man stabbed a 10-month-old baby in her stroller, critically injuring her, police said.

Isabelle Avins was rushed to a hospital where she underwent surgery Wednesday night. She was listed in critical but stable condition, police spokesman Detective Brian Sessa said.

At the family's request, the hospital on Thursday declined to provide further details.

The nanny was walking with the baby around 5 p.m. when the man approached them a short distance from the girl's home, Sessa said.

"He just came out of nowhere," witness Hennessy Arias told the New York Post in Thursday's editions. "The baby was hysterical, crying. ... She was crying and trying to gag for air."

The nanny, identified only as a 20-year-old woman, screamed for help and cradled the baby.

Isabelle's father, Jon Avins, also praised the nanny.

"The babysitter saved her life," he told reporters outside the family's apartment building. "She's like a member of our family."

Bernard Derr, 48, a man with a history of psychiatric problems, was taken into custody a short time after the attack and held on attempted murder and other charges, police said.

 

[Ponyboy]

"Psychiatric problems" is an understatement. Truly there are good and evil people in this world and this guy represents the latter. I'm not big on capital punishment but the psycho freak man makes a good argument.

 

[BioBanker]

Yep - Im against capital punishment myself, but if that were one of my kids, Id not be waiting around for any court to decide his fait.

 

[loNfastNSX]

The fact that he has Psychiatric problems will work in his favor in the court system. I dont want to knock our judicial system but most likely he will get thrown into a psych ward, evaluated, and released within a year. Thats a bunch af crap, but its the way it is.

I say string the guy up and let the father at him. But thats just me.

 

[FDNewbie]

Damn guys...I don't like the guy or anything, but if he truly has psychiatric problems, then he's not really aware of what he's doing. Ppl have extreme mood swings, hear voices, think they must follow commands, see hallucinations, etc. Some ppl are very very mentally ill...and I think we should Thank God we're not. The poor guy - if he is indeed ill - well, I feel sorry for him. I have trouble holding him accountable for something he isn't fully aware of. He probably needs to be institutionalized and permanently, but I don't think you can easily just lay the blame on him like that.

I'd be a LOT more pissed if it was some father, fully aware, molesting his young daughter. That's awareness and intent. THAT should be met w/ maximum harshness IMO.

 

[Ponyboy]

"Psychiatric problems" is not an excuse. And it certainly doesn't allievate the pain or fill the hole of a gaping stab wound in an infant...or the trauma for the child's parents and family.

Two things are true here:

- The psycho shouldn't have done this.
- The psycho should be punished severely.

 

[White92]

If the guy really is so messed up that he doesn't know right from wrong, how does he function in daily life? How does he get a knife, walk the streets and stab a baby? This is truely impossible for me to understand. The first thing that came to my mind when I read this was what if this happened to my baby?

 

[NSX-Stalker]

He knew what he was doing. He ran and tried to hide the weapon.

No excuse.

NSX-Stalker

 

[FDNewbie]

If the guy really is so messed up that he doesn't know right from wrong, how does he function in daily life? How does he get a knife, walk the streets and stab a baby? This is truely impossible for me to understand. The first thing that came to my mind when I read this was what if this happened to my baby?

Since I have a bit of insight into this typa thing, I can tell you that a LOT of people have mental illnesses and are very unstable when they're off their medication. And a LOT of these people are out-patients; ie, you give them their medication, and leave it up to them to stay on it, while they go back to their normal lives. What usually happens? They miss a dose here or there (or sometimes skip it because they don't like the medication's side effects), and go back to being very mentally disturbed. At that point in time, depending on the illness, many of these people really don't know any better. Really. So they do something crazy - and sometimes horrible, get caught by the cops, and taken back to the hospital, where they're admitted to the hospital - for the time being.

He knew what he was doing. He ran and tried to hide the weapon.

No excuse.

NSX-Stalker

Oh I didn't see that part. That's a different story. In that case, I was speaking generally, of course lol.

 

[MiamiMermaid]

He knew what he was doing. He ran and tried to hide the weapon.

No excuse.

NSX-Stalker

That, Right There, is Evidence to oppose his "insanity plea". Someone who has mental problems to the point they are hearing voices (DSM definition: "Schizophrenia"), they often will not recognize the offense of the crime. Therefore, would not attempt to hide the weapon. He , for obvious reasons, is not mentally healthy.
Tragic story. that carjacking thread still has me at loss for words, as well.
Be prepared and protected. I believe in Angels. I think they can help. Deem me silly, or deem me wise. ?

 

[AU_NSX]

Bernard Derr, 48, a man with a history of psychiatric problems, was taken into custody a short time after the attack and held on attempted murder and other charges, police said.

I know some people don't believe in capital punishment...

However I believe that sometimes you must do the humane thing and have certain people "put down" or “taken out” permanently because there is no hope of rehabilitation. They will never fit into society and in fact are a risk to innocent law abiding citizens. Look at paedophiles, terrorists and this guy...

We are responsible for the protection of our children and it is about time that we started doing that! By executing the b*stards who would harm an innocent!!!

 

[PAUL M]

As a father of a 9month old girl I can honestly say that if I was the father of that child that guy would be dead.I wouldnt think twice about throwing everything I have away to stab him back.

 

[NeoNSX]

Sadly "psychiatric problems" has become an excuse these days. And because of this people with psychiatric problems in the community (who are getting treatment) are demonized and not understood.

 

[Cairo94507]

I do not know about the rest of the states, but in CA, the psychiatric defense is not as easy as you might think it is. For example, in a murder case If someone is found incompetant to stand trial they are committed to a psych hospital for treatment. If they respond to treatment, they are returned to the jurisdiction and prosecuted. If they never recover they remain insttutionalized.

The hurdles that must be overcome to have one declared mentally incompetant are significant. That whole Dan White "Twinky defense" isn't working anymore.

I do agree if this person fled and tried to conceal the weapon, that is possibly evidence of a functional mental state.

 

[MiamiMermaid]

Sadly "psychiatric problems" has become an excuse these days. And because of this people with psychiatric problems in the community (who are getting treatment) are demonized and not understood.

Excellent statement.