I suspect the other person thought (as I initially did) that the 'murderer' in the thread title was the shooter in Virginia. The newspapers here in the UK have been making big headlines about his mental state and he would seem to fit the description - manslaughter due to diminished responsibility.

It's very hard to tell when mania or depression turns to violence whether it's been pre-meditated or not. I frequently express a desire to kill my spouse (especially tonight when he's snoring, snorting and twitching in his sleep and keeping me awake) and have previously been diagnosed with a mental health issue... If he doesn't wake up tomorrow, will I be guilty of murder or manslaughter? I didn't go to bed last night planning on killing him, despite expressing the desire to previously, but I've got one nerve left today, and he's snoring through it...

Normally, I wouldn't dream of hurting him, but there are situations that make me want to rip his throat out and beat him with the soggy end. If I ever once give into that desire, the release will be enormous and may well result in multiple stab wounds. The number of wounds will have no significant reason, and to me would lean towards the uncontrolled, frenzied state that a mental health problem can bring on. To cold-bloodedly kill a person takes a great deal of control - something that would result in one or two significant wounds. So, either this guy really was unhinged and therefore the charge should be manslaughter or else he was clever enough to make it look like a frenzied attack.

Whether it was manslaughter or murder, he should not be let out for a long time, he should receive treatment for his mental disorder and not use it as a soft option.

LTS