[Avodah] Insanity

[Zev Sero]

On 15/07/2011 2:28 AM, Daniel M. Israel wrote:
> There's been some discussion of insanity pleas on Areivim.  I'm just wondering, is there any basis in halacha for such a plea?

"Cheresh, shoteh, veKatan, pegi`atam ra`ah."  They are not liable for
their actions even in a civil case, kol shekein in a criminal case.
The definition of shoteh is very much discussed in the ShUT, with reference
to agunot, where the rabbanim tried hard to find that a man was competent
to give a get or chalitzah.

-- 
Zev Sero        If they use these guns against us once, at that moment
zev at sero.name   the Oslo Accord will be annulled and the IDF will
                 return to all the places that have been given to them.
		                            - Yitzchak Rabin