Interesting story in the Star. I doubt it could give rise to a defence for Williams but the fact something is there suggests it's prudent to keep the trial evidence safe in case someone wanted to take a run at a late filed appeal:
At about the time his crime spree began, convicted serial killer Russell Williams was taking a cocktail of medications for chronic pain — including a drug that in some cases causes mind-altering side effects.
One of the drugs, according to an informed source, was prednisone — a corticosteroid used to treat inflammation, arthritis, asthma, lupus and certain cancers. Studies since the 1950s indicate it can cause a range of adverse reactions, including euphoria, mania and bipolar disorder.
http://bit.ly/b0bRUC
1 comment:
I think there were several factors that should have been examined in this case - particularly the triggering factors (which I don't believe for a second are unknown). I don't believe the public good nor "justice" in the larger sense was adequately served here.
I myself was "casually" put on prednisone a couple of years ago during a hospitalization(without any warning or information btw). When I read the side effects - particularly the psychiatric ones - I was horrified. I think that Mr. Williams does have a valid appeal issue, as my own experience would tell me that prednisone is a mitigating factor in his guilt.
That said, I doubt after the public shaming and humiliation we all received during his trial (which I felt was highly inappropriate) he would ever consider that.
Heaven help all those young men who are struggling with similar issues who have been given the VERY CLEAR message that they are complete subhumans and that there is nowhere to go for help. If we truly want to protect women fromm sexual abuse and victimization (and I have to wonder who, if ANYONE, is worried about protecting the troubled young men before they offend) I highly doubt this is the way to do it.
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