mental defect

This year, Mr. Brooks indicated that he would plead not guilty by reason of mental defect, suggesting that he was not mentally competent at the time of the parade attack, but he later withdrew that plea.

Federal law bars people from owning a gun if a judge has determined they have a “mental defect” or they have been forced into a mental institution — but an evaluation alone would not trigger the prohibition.

If Riley’s lawyers opt for an insanity defense, they would need to show Riley was so seriously afflicted by a mental defect at the time of the slayings that he did not know what he was doing or could not tell right from wrong.

As jury selection began Tuesday ahead of opening arguments next week, Holmes has laid the groundwork for an unusual mental defect defense.

But the law allowed defendants to argue that, due to mental defect, they did not intend to commit the crime.