Asperger’s is like being Mr. Spock attorney argues

February 28, 2009

2–3 minutes

Asperger’s, craigslist, craigslist killing, Katherine-Ann-Olson, Michael-John-Anderson, Minnesota, murder, shooting

Asperger’s defense raised in Craiglist trial:

If you followed this site for a while you may remember the story of Katherine Ann Olson. She was the 24-year-old woman from Minnesota who answered a craigslist ad for a nanny only to be shot and killed by 20-year-old Michael Anderson.

Previously Anderson’s attorney tried using a mental defect defense stating that Anderson has Asperger’s syndrome. Except mental defect can’t be used as a defense in Minnesota and can only be applied to sentencing. Now Anderson’s attorney, Alan Margoles, is arguing that Anderson’s alleged diagnosis of Asperger’s should be heard during testimony. Check out how Mr. Margoles explains Anderson’s alleged Asperger’s…

Defense attorney Alan Margoles said in an omnibus hearing in November 2008 that Anderson has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and was “laboring under it” so that he “didn’t know the nature of his actions or that they were wrong.”

Margoles likened Anderson’s mental capacity to that of Mr. Spock in Star Trek.

He said Mr. Spock had analytical reasoning, but no emotion. “He operated on pure logic. He had no sympathy, no empathy, no regret, no remorse. He was civil, but not kind. He was cold, but not bad or evil. He thought differently than others on the ship.”

Anderson is much the same as Mr. Spock; except that his condition is not voluntary, it is genetic, Margoles continued. “But the difference is that Mr. Spock knew of his reliance on logic and that he was different from the others,” he said. “Mr. Anderson does not know that.”

Therefore, Margoles said, the jury will hear statements Anderson made to police that may seem inappropriate to a normal person. Those statements, like: “I didn’t kill her, the bullet did,” or “I thought it would be funny,” cannot be fully understood without allowing the jury to hear information about Asperger’s.

Except that Mr. Margoles’ entire outlook on Asperger’s is completely wrong. As I’ve stated before Asperger’s doesn’t make you not know the difference between right and wrong. Its main symptom is that Asperger’s patients can’t discern subtle social interactions like sarcasm and humor and they may come off as having a complete lack of tact in social situations. It does not turn people into killers. If Anderson couldn’t know the difference between right and wrong he wouldn’t have disposed of Katherine Ann Olson’s body or hid her car.

His answers to police of “I didn’t kill her, the bullet did, or “I thought it would be funny” tell me that he doesn’t have Asperger’s and that he’s just a sociopathic killer.

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11 responses to “Asperger’s is like being Mr. Spock attorney argues”

Trench Reynolds

February 28, 2009 at 4:28 pm

Unfortunately this isn’t the first time I’ve written about a sleazy lawyer using Asperger’s as a criminal defense for murder.

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bogustoo

February 28, 2009 at 4:24 pm

I can’t believe this asshat is trying to use Asperger’s as his defense!And thank you for understanding the true dynamics of this disorder. My little one has Asperger’s. He most definitely knows right from wrong. As a matter of fact, with Asperger’s kids, right from wrong is completely black and white – there is no gray area.

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Soobs

March 1, 2009 at 10:17 am

“Logically” speaking, the lawyer is full of shit.

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stellabard

March 11, 2009 at 3:14 pm

You kinda have to wonder what the creators of Star Trek have to say about the defendant’s “logic”

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Trench Reynolds

March 23, 2009 at 11:34 am

Deanna, I have to ask. Are you related to Katherine Ann Olson?

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Deanna Olson

March 23, 2009 at 11:26 am

Obviously the Anderson Family has a lot of money to hire Defense attorney Alan Margoles. How can their sons actions NOT be premeditation when he:Planed to place an add on Craig’s list (he did not ACCIDENTALLY post the ad-especially when it was an ad for a female nanny)Planed to dressed up like a woman when the ad was answered (it was not his standard mode of dress per say)Planed to kill Katherine (probably made sure the gun was available before she came to the door) The gun didn’t accidentally go off or he shot her in self defense. He dragged her to his room where the gun was and shot her. Hid her body in the trunk of a car. I hope he rots in jail for a long long time. His parents have probably always been denial about his violent behavior and still are. They get to drag everyone through a painful trial. But like the paper said maybe it will give Katherine’s family some answers.

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Deanna Olson

March 23, 2009 at 12:16 pm

No, I am not related but the family is definitely in my prayers. I am glad that I found your site. Its a good site and I will be following this story closely though Trench Reynolds’ Crime News.Best Regards,

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Trench Reynolds

April 6, 2009 at 11:06 am

He was living with his parents but he was never diagnosed with Asperger’s until his lawyer claimed it.

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Miriam

April 6, 2009 at 11:04 am

I am glad there are people discussing this because my first thought was that I didn’t know all the details. Asperger people are not cold and unfeeling. I think they can be self absorbed and might not always get what empathy is but I’ve seen my own child with asperger syndrome become very upset when he saw a parent yell at or hit another child. He cries as if he is the one being yelled at or hit. So he has a great deal of very overwhelming empathy.I think it is possible for asperger people to commit crimes but mostly they are impulsive things relating to their obsessions like stealing something they really want.I think it is also possible for asperger people who are not getting the right treatment and are not in a good environment to become very aggressive and to develop other comorbid conditions that might cause them to commit murder.I want to know more about this guy and about his family. Was he living with his parents at the time? Was he supervised in any way. Was he able to work and make a living? There are a lot of things that don’t add up.

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Angel

April 6, 2009 at 11:19 am

I think Anderson is suffering more from Assholer’s syndrome. Or maybe Assmuncher’s. Or maybe the defense attorney is suffering from a little bit of Asskisser’s syndrome. You know, because he wants that big fat paycheck for getting their son exonerated. What a bottom feeder. Casting aspersions on an entire class of individuals (those with Asperger’s), in order to try and benefit his client – who doesn’t even have the disorder. 👿

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Dave

June 11, 2009 at 2:08 pm

The Asperger’s defense is silly. I agree with the article, namely that Asperger’s doesn’t keep someone from knowing the difference between right and wrong. Asperger’s simply prevents one from understanding many nonverbal social cues, so as to make the person appear aloof, rude, “clueless,” and abrupt. People who have Asperger’s may not know the difference between right and wrong when it comes to social situations, but they sure know it’s wrong to kill people.This attorney’s client might possibly have Asperger’s, but that doesn’t Asperger’s “made him do it,” or that people with Asperger’s are psychopathic killers because of that. And I say that as a criminal defense attorney who has Asperger’s Syndrome myself. This attorney does society and people with Asperger’s a great disservice, in addition to making a ridiculous argument. Taken to its logical extreme, if Asperger’s makes one a potential psychopathic killer, then people with Asperger’s should all be institutionalized. The truth is, people with Asperger’s can function in society quite well, simply by using their intellect (most are of above-average intelligence) to compensate for their lack of instinctive social skills.

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