[sethist]

In those cases isn't it due to the fact that the defendant is unable to mentally process their crime, trial, or potential punishment?

[politician]

The fact that the boy is dead is grim proof that he was "unable to mentally process his potential punishment".

[sethist]

No it isn't. If anything it shows that he didn't want to endure his potential punishment. If he didn't understand the potential punishment there would be no need to commit suicide.

[politician]

Your statement could be misinterpreted to mean that any rational competent defendant would consider the potential punishment worse than death.

I'm positive that you meant that he understood what 35 years in jail and a felony charge meant and was thus not unfit to stand trial under an insanity claim. That's fair.