Purchase Solution

Moral and Legal Culpability

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

Situation:
You are selected for a jury in a trial of a 64 year-old-mother who killed her two adult sons. The two men were institutionalized and suffered from Huntington's disease, a degenerative brain disease. They were certain to die and would endure much pain and suffering brfore they did. Her husband had also died from this same disease and she had nursed him through his suffering. She took a gun into the nursing home, kissed her sons goodbye, and then shot them both through the head. She was arrested for first-degree murder. The prosecutor informs you that there is no "mercy killing" defense in the law as it is written. How would you decide this case? What punishment does she deserve? (See Ellington, K. 2003, "Justice Tempered With Mercy. Houston Chronicle, January 30, 10A. The prosecutor took a plea of guilty to assisting suicide.)
*Respond to the above situation. Is the mother legally culpable but morally blameless, both legally and morally culpable, or some other combination? Explain your answer.*

Purchase this Solution

Solution Preview

Under the law, the mother is legally culpable because under the law of the state, planning to take the life of another human being, whether or not terminally ill or suffering, is still illegal under the law. However, morally, under the view of the mother, she is morally blameless. Morality is relative so someone may morally prohibit ...

Purchase this Solution


Free BrainMass Quizzes
Evidence

Do you know your evidence objections? Find out with this quiz!

Constitutional Law Rights

How much do you know about Constitutional Law Rights? Find out with this quiz!

Title VII Laws

Learn the basics of the laws under Title VII.

Criminal Defenses Review

Test your knowledge of the basics of criminal law and defenses with this quiz.

Contract Requirments

How much do you know about the legal requirements for a contract? Find out with this quiz!