Valentine Shortis Insanity Defense

The insanity defence is one of the most controversial topics in the legal system, used by many criminal defendants as an excuse for their unlawful activities. In fact, the Canadian legal system has experienced this in the case of Valentine Shortis, an Irish Immigrant who was convicted of killing two men, injuring one and attempted murder on March 1, 1895. Charged with murder and sentenced to death, Valentine’s Lawyer St. Pierre argued that he suffered from insanity, such as his inability to distinguish right from wrong. Moreover, there was evidence from Shortis’s friends, families, and neighbours who claimed that Shortis was a very vain and mischievous person. According to Friedland, the crown (Macmaster) stated that “he did many eccentric,…show more content…
This simple evidence shows his intent was to commit robbery. Admittedly, it’s true that he used to carry around guns shooting at strangers in Ireland, which proves that he showed signs of abnormal behaviour. Meaning, his behaviour was unconventional in the 1890s. But if this is so, what about the chisel that was found concealed under his coat. While his defence team may claim that his possession of the revolver was a habit, the chisel was not. This further proves he carried the chisel, in case there was difficulty in getting the money. Why this piece of evidence was so important is the fact the that Valentine’s Lawyers believe that he was “incapable of appreciating the nature and quality of the act” and “absence of guilty intent” (p. 40). But all his action from when conspiring with McVicar to rob the mill to carrying his own weapon, all shows that he understood the nature of what he was about to…show more content…
But, there was much evidence presented during the trial that suggested that Valentine premeditated robbing the mill. When the crown examined and presented the evidence to the jury, they agreed that he was conscious of his actions on the night of the murder, when he attempted to lure the men from the vaults and shot at Wilson multiple times to make sure he was dead. Even though Valentine’s four psychiatrists tried to prove he was insane, the defendant failed to meet the requirements of the M’Naghten rules: 1) was suffering from a disease of mind 2) was not aware of the nature and quality of the act and 3) inability to tell wrong from right (p. 142). As a result, Valentine was sane, therefore
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