Reply #4: It would be an error

[H2O Man]

for anyone on DU to assume that he has a mental illness that requires hospitalization, based upon what has been reported thus far. He has served time for violent crime, and was facing a court date yesterday, according to the media. Both the incarceration and the court date were for crimes against a woman.

He had reportedly been drinking for three days. He planned his crime the night before, and he told a family member that morning to "watch the news."

Certainly, he has issues. But that does not equal being one of the many good and decent people who suffer from a serious and persistent mental illness, and who does not get adequate treatment.

Just as there are mentally ill people incarcerated who should be in a psychiatric hospital, there are also many anti-social people who have learned to manipulate the system, to avoid legal consequences for their crimes. They tend to act out as court dates come closer.

It is possible that he is seriously mentally ill. It is also possible that he is an alcoholic, anti-social malingerer. Let the prosecution and defense teams have him evaluated before concluding that he is either a victim of the system, or that he should be in jail.