Speaker
Danny Cevallos
Appearances over time
1 episodes
Episodes
1
Podcasts
Quotes & moments
The psychiatric 'extreme emotional disturbance' defense in Mangione's case would only reduce the charge from second-degree murder to first-degree manslaughter — not result in an acquittal.
Keith Morrison returns to a case he first covered in 2013 — the murder of teen track star Mickey Costanzo in a tiny Nevada casino town. It has obsession, jealousy, a love triangle, and a jailhouse interview. Morrison calls it Shakespearean, and he's not wrong.
Mangione's defense team secretly filed a psychiatric 'extreme emotional disturbance' notice months ago — but when the judge unsealed it publicly, they pulled it within 24 hours. By briefly signaling Mangione might admit to the killing, they potentially strengthened the prosecution's resolve.
Extreme emotional disturbance defense requires proving three things: the defendant was genuinely disturbed, there's a reasonable explanation for it, and it was present at the moment of the killing. Even if you win, the best outcome is a manslaughter conviction instead of murder — you still go to prison.
Jamey Laird's testimony blew up the narrative that the affair had ended months before Maya vanished. They were still messaging the day she disappeared — and just two days earlier, Larry had called Jamey's wife to expose the affair, sending Jamey into a spiral.
Former Bardstown police officer Nick Houck arrived at his perjury arraignment without his attorney — who told him to proceed alone. Nick told the judge he had no idea why he'd been charged, and a public defender was hastily assigned for the hearing.
The defense team for Tyler Robinson, accused of killing right-wing activist Charlie Kirk at a Utah campus debate, wants the death penalty removed because a prosecutor discussed an inconclusive ballistics report with media outlets. The judge is now weighing whether to hold the prosecution in contempt.
The Supreme Court reversed the federal appeals court that had overturned Pedro Hernandez's conviction for killing six-year-old Etan Patz. Hernandez, now 64, will serve out his 25-years-to-life sentence without a new trial.
In the finale of 'Five Miles From Home,' Cody's then-fiancée Toni Fratto describes being too terrified to flee, believing that even driving away would only make things worse. She feared she'd be killed as a witness.
Jamey Laird testified that Larry controlled when Maya could drive — he drove her to work and back every day. Maya's secret code name for Larry was 'V for Voldemort.' She was planning to file for divorce after her daughter's Big Bear birthday trip that never happened.
Mickey Costanzo called her family every 15 minutes. When she went silent, the whole town of West Wendover turned out to search. They hoped she was alive. They suspected she wasn't. Her body was found buried in a shallow grave in the desert.
Mangione's writings called healthcare executives 'parasites' and cited the US ranking 42nd in life expectancy despite having the world's most expensive healthcare system. His defense needs to link this to his emotional state at the moment of the shooting — not just general anger.
Analysis
What they talk about
- True Crime 100%
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