Accused murderer wants to use Scientology for his defense

[Turd Fergusen]

A Missouri man is hoping his belief in Scientology will save him from the death penalty.

Kenneth Wayne Thompson is arguing that the religion will help a jury understand his actions on the day he allegedly bludgeoned his sister-in-law and her boyfriend to death with a hatchet and then set their home ablaze, the Arizona Republic reported.

Jurors were asked about their views on Scientology during jury selection in the Arizona murder trial, the paper reported — and Tom Cruise’s name was mentioned during opening arguments.

Prosecutors say the death penalty is called for because the March 2012 killings were premeditated. Thompson had driven non-stop for more than 24 hours from his home in rural Missouri to reach the couple’s home in Prescott Valley, they argue.

But Thompson’s attorneys plan to tell jurors that Thompson’s beliefs explain away the marathon drive.

Thompson traveled to Arizona because his beliefs dictated he needed to be there to rescue his wife’s nephew, the paper said.

Thompson believed the nephew’s eternal soul was at risk because he was being treated with medicines for psychological issues — something the religion opposes, according to the report.

Full Article:

Accused murderer wants to use Scientology for his defense

A Missouri man is hoping his belief in Scientology will save him from the death penalty. Kenneth Wayne Thompson is arguing that the religion will help a jury understand his actions on the day he al…

nypost.com

 

[Benighted]

Oh yeah, that's totally going to work. Totally going to walk free with that defense.

 

[Satanica]

Religion, my ass, not that it matters if it's Xenu or some other sky fairie. I do believe Scientology could make a mentally ill person go off the rails like this though.

 

[Kiss_My_Axe]

Drove nonstop for more than 24 hours! I wonder if he wore a diaper?

 

[JackBurton]

I dont understand how this is a defense against the death penalty

Article says the prosecutors biggest cause for why death penalty is warranted is because it's premeditated.

And his defense is to say that because of his religion, he believed he needed to travel allllllll that way to kill his relatives in order to protect his nephews soul from the wrath of Xenu?

This scientology defense is supporting the premeditation that the prosecution has argued. The fuck is the point?

 

[notchback]

Drove nonstop for more than 24 hours! I wonder if he wore a diaper?

Hellacious fuel mileage with the vehicle he drove also.

 

[lithiumgirl]

So I think this could go either way ... like he could be insulting half the court or they might just agree that Scientology could drive you nuts. I guess we'll see ...