Supreme Court hears insanity defense

Tomorrow the US Supreme Court will hear a direct challenge to the insanity defense for the first time in more than 25 years, since the John Hinckley case prompted so many states to change their laws.

At issue? Eric Clark, a young man with untreated schizophrenia who killed a police officer because he thought he was an alien. He didn’t know he was ill, like about half of those with schizophrenia.

His parents just want to get him treatment – the same thing they wanted before he shot Officer Jeff Moritz.

"Lock him up for his crime," Terry Clark says, "but treat him for his mental illness, please. Eric didn't choose to be mentally ill. It chose him." – CNN (Associated Press), April 18, 2005