Lapu Lapu Day attack: Despite mental illness, accused killers can still be convicted
Former attorney general Wally Oppal says that even when an accused killer has documented mental health problems, they can still be convicted for their crimes.
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Kai-ji Adam Lo, accused of plowing his SUV into a crowd Saturday afternoon, killing 11 and injuring more than 30, had dozens of interactions with police related to his mental health issues.
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He's facing eight counts of second-degree murder with more charges expected as the police investigation continues. The 30-year-old will next appear in court in May.
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Addison said seven victims are still in critical condition and three others remain in serious condition. He said the dead include nine woman and girls and two men.
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Lo's lawyer Mark Swartz said he couldn't comment on whether he will raise his client's mental health issues in his eventual defence at trial.
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'There's nothing I can unfortunately share at this time, as you probably appreciate,' Swartz said Monday. 'There's still a lot to unfold.'
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But legal experts said that even with a documented history of mental illness, an accused has an uphill battle to convince a judge that they should be found not criminally responsible by reason of mental disorder, also known as NCRMD.
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The former justice and prosecutor said that the mental disorder has to be so significant that it prevented an accused from understanding 'the nature or quality of the act committed further knowing that it was wrong.'
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