Life sentence for Odgren is not justice

Today’s conviction of John Odgren on the charge of first degree murder for the January 19, 2007 stabbing death of 15-year-old James Alenson, is quite a shocker. Odgren's insanity plea was surely a long shot, given the reluctance of most jurors to return a verdict that they believe is soft on crime. Still, many of us who listened to the testimony over the past 2 weeks felt fairly confident that the jurors would, in consideration of the defendant’s profound and long-standing mental heath issues, reduce the conviction to second degree murder. Although one could make the case, as the prosecution apparently did very successfully, that Odgren planned the murder, much about his behavior and state of mind would seemingly have interfered with his capacity to think clearly and premeditate on that tragic day.

It is telling that the jury deliberated for several days before returning its decision. The question of guilt or innocence was never in play, only the defendant’s mental state and the extent to which it limited his criminal responsibility. The jurors likely were divided on the issue, yet in the end those among the 7 women and 5 men who could not see past their desire for justice won out.

It is indisputable that Odgren needs to be locked up for an extended period of time--years, decades perhaps, but not life.

Frankly, the thought of John Odgren, a boy who was bullied and ostracized repeatedly in high school, spending the remainder of his years in a prison setting is absolutely chilling. His well-documented fears and paranoid view of his world will undoubtedly become acute once he lives amongst a population of hardened criminals.