Sanity at issue at dad's trial for killing 3 girls

[Starry Messenger]

http://news.yahoo.com/sanity-issue-dads-trial-killing-3-girls-163114919.html

HUDSON, Wis. (AP) — Police found a horrifying scene at the Schaffhausen family home in the western Wisconsin city of River Falls last July: three girls dead in their beds, their throats slashed. In the basement, gasoline was sloshed in a possible attempt to burn down their mother's house.

This week, the girls' father goes on trial to determine whether he was insane at the time. Aaron Schaffhausen last week conceded guilt on three counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one of attempted arson, but maintained that he's not responsible for his actions due to mental illness.

Prosecutors argue Schaffhausen was perfectly aware of what he was doing, and killed 11-year-old Amara, 8-year-old Sophie and 5-year-old Cecilia because he was still bitter about their divorce and furious because he thought she had begun seeing another man. Their evidence, according to a criminal complaint, includes a chilling statement to his ex-wife right after the killings: "You can come home now because I killed the kids."

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[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Only defense possible..wonder if it will hold up.

[Starry Messenger]

2. I really don't know.

It sounds like he knew what he was doing.

[Warpy]

3. I sincerely doubt it will

court ordered psychiatric exams will determine his ability to stand trial. Since the legal definition of sanity is a very narrow one, he will most likely be found sane.

That text to their mother is particularly damning.

[life long demo]

4. He did this because he was mad at his wife?

Actually I think death penalty is too good for him. Let him rot in jail for the rest of his stinking life. I can only hope.

[Starry Messenger]

5. Isn't that awful?

Those sweet little girls, looking forward to seeing him. Mom leaving so she didn't have to talk to him. She's going to blame herself for the rest of her life.

[Brickbat]

6. The babysitter's experience is the one that haunts me.

She's the last one who saw them alive.

[Starry Messenger]

7. It's totally sickening.

Pure evil.