Knowles v. Mirzayance, No. 07-1315; U.S. Supreme Court; opinion by Thomas, J.; decided March 24, 2009. On certiorari to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Respondent Mirzayance entered pleas of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity (NGI) at his state-court murder trial. During the guilt phase, he sought to avoid a conviction for first-degree murder and instead obtain a second-degree murder verdict by presenting medical testimony that he was insane at the time of the crime and was, therefore, incapable of the necessary premeditation or deliberation. The jury nevertheless convicted him of first-degree murder.
