Opinion ID: 1615200
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: sanity determination prior to execution

Text: The State of Louisiana will not execute one who has become insane subsequent to his conviction of a capital crime. State v. Allen, 15 So.2d 870 (La.1943). No state imposes the death penalty on the insane. Ford v. Wainwright, ___ U.S. ___, 106 S.Ct. 2595, 91 L.Ed.2d 335 (1986). The State will not impose the death penalty on Michael Owen Perry if a court determines he has become insane subsequent to his conviction for first degree murder and lacks the capacity to understand the death penalty. Counsel for the defendant may apply to the trial court for appointment of a sanity commission to make such a determination. Indeed, the allegation of mental incapacity may be raised by the court or the prosecutor. La.C.Cr.P. art. 642. If the defendant seeks a sanity commission prior to execution, he bears the burden of providing the trial court with a reasonable ground to believe he is presently insane. State v. Allen, supra; La.C.Cr.P. art. 642; State v. Lowenfield, supra. Defendant's burden is to show by a preponderance of evidence that he lacks the present capacity to undergo execution. We have discussed extensively Perry's mental capacity to proceed despite his withdrawal of the plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. We have determined the defendant was capable of proceeding at trial. A similar review might be in order prior to execution. We stress that the determination of defendant's sanity is for the trial judge, not a sanity commission alone. State v. Rogers, supra.