The Georgia Court of Appeals is currently deliberating over the complex case of Michelle Wierson, a Decatur woman pleading not guilty for the death of a 5-year-old boy due to a 2018 car crash. The court's decision will hinge on whether Wierson can legitimately use an insanity defense, as she was suffering a psychotic break at the time she crashed her SUV into a stopped Toyota Corolla, which subsequently led to the tragic death of young Miles Jenness. According to a report by FOX 5 Atlanta, Wierson has a history of bipolar disorder and believes that her mental state should absolve her of liability.
Prosecutors maintain that Wierson should still to be held accountable for her actions, regardless of her health issues. As stated by National Post, if the insanity defense is permitted, they aim to introduce evidence indicating that Wierson had not been faithfully taking her prescribed medication, potentially contributing to her mental state at the time of the crash. Wierson's defense, however, claims that this evidence should be inadmissible, asserting that her dosage may have been too low rather than willingly neglected.
At the heart of the case are the tests for insanity under Georgia law, where someone must either lack the mental capacity to distinguish right from wrong or be acting under a delusional compulsion that overwhelms their will at the time of the crime. Court records and witness statements obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta portray Wierson as irate and seemingly intoxicated at the accident site. Her behavior, as described, could be attributed to a psychotic break, which both a defense-hired expert and a court-appointed expert agreed would meet the criteria for the insanity defense.
Casting a shadow over the proceedings is the victim's family, who, through their attorney Bruce Hagen, have expressed a strong desire to see Wierson face full criminal accountability. "The Jennesses are really interested in seeing Ms. Wierson held fully criminally accountable for the death of Miles," Hagen told FOX 5 Atlanta. The prosecutors argue that Wierson's mental state simply is not relevant to the charge of driving in a manner that led to the young boy's death and that her lawyers are attempting "to evoke an emotional response and to confuse the jury." Adding to the stakes, both parties could potentially appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court, which means the issue might not see a resolution any time soon.
