Question

Scott Rudy finds out that his girlfriend is cheating on him with his best friend. Scott goes over to his best friend’s house and finds his girlfriend and his best friend in a compromising embrace. Scott takes out his gun, and shoots and kills both of them. Scott is arrested and charged with two counts of murder. At his trial Scott claims he was insane at the time of the murder as his defense. Scott’s ability to cooperate with his attorneys and the ability to understand the charges and proceedings against him is referred to as:________.

Answer 1

Answer:

Diminished responsibility                        

Explanation:

Diminished liability in criminal justice is a possible mitigation by argument under which offenders contend that if they violate the statute, they will not be considered entirely responsible for doing so because their intellectual capacities have been "reduced" or damaged. Decreased capability is a partial defense against charges which allow the defendant to behave in a specific mental state.