Most people following the Jerry Sandusky trial aren’t expecting any Casey Anthony-style surprises; the outcome seems pretty cut and dry. Still, it’s not over just yet. On Friday’s Hardball, Michael Smerconish examined an interesting new development in the trial.
Sandusky, facing 52 charges of sexual abuse against 10 boys, will now be allowed to have an expert testify about a psychiatric condition that his lawyer says may explain some of Sandusky’s behavior, like “grooming” his victims and writing them love letters.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, “histrionic personality disorder is one of a group of conditions called dramatic personality disorders. People with these disorders have intense, unstable emotions and distorted self-images. Their self-esteem depends on the approval of others and does not arise from a true feeling of self-worth. They have an overwhelming desire to be noticed, and often behave dramatically or inappropriately to get attention. The word histrionic means “dramatic or theatrical.”
Some legal insiders have speculated the psychological testimony could dramatically change the shape of the case. Smerconish asked former Montour County, Pa. District Attorney Robert Buehner, Jr. if this new defense strategy will fly with jurors in Centre County. Buehner didn’t mince words:
“It’s not going to even come close to flying. When I heard this news today, Michael, I immediately thought, this is great for the prosecution because the jurors are now going to know a name for something other than 'pedophilia' that Jerry Sandusky did with these boys. It doesn’t mean he’s incompetent, it doesn’t mean he’s insane, it just now has another label. And I think when they cross-examine whatever psychologist they put on, it’ll only enhance the prosecution. I see the jurors just looking at this and shaking their heads.
By next week at this time, we should have a verdict.”
Leave a Comment:
We’re not lawyers or psychologists. But we can’t imagine Sandusky’s latest legal gambit succeeding.
A therapist can say you're histrionic and the law can still say you're a criminal. One doesn’t rule out the other.
And even if Sandusky’s “grooming” is not deemed criminal, surely his grabbing, groping and raping will be.
David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, SNAPclohessy@aol.com)
Oh no! this might just reduce the sentence from 520 years, to a messily 360 years in the slammer!
Histrionic Personality Disorder? Isn't that the malady where the only sure treatment is life in prison. With your faithful wife by your side?
I say, put him out in the general population when he's sentenced. I've been in prison, and the one thing prisoners hate more than any other is someone who has abused or hurt a child.
Sandusky seems to have a personality like most attorneys and politicians.