A Crime of Insanity

Its just a nonher solar day of class, at least which is what is going through your head. You think schools are a safe place, not a place where you can eviscerate crack or killed at. What is going through your mind when youre their sitting in class? Nothing other than what is going on. But it was all different for these students that day. On December 14, 1994, 26 year old Ralph Tortirici walked into a account class at State University of New York. Underneath his clothes he had a hunting knife and a Remmington 270 hunting rifle with which he took the classroom hostage. iodin of the hostages said he told every ane to tie-up up and thump to the side of the classroom. Tortirici also told the professor to leave the classroom. He wanted everyone to whap he was serious by firing off a round of drinks from his rifle and used a fire hose to tie the doors shut. Tortorici told the hostages in the classroom he had a com siter chip in his intellect and penis and wanted to see the preside nt. If everyone cooperated nobody would get hurt, just 19 year old, Jason McEnaney, move the gunman and it dis supercharged. McEnaney was seriously injured, shot in the degree and groin.Once arrested, Tortorici repeatedly said, I did what I had to do. They took Tortorici to Albany Medical message to be treated for a knife in gore he got during a struggle with the students. He also tested positive for cocaine. afterwardwards he was released into police custody and taken to the Albany Court jail and charged with multiple counts of kidnapping, aggravated assault, and attempted murder. His lawyer claimed not guilty by reason on insanity. Larry Rosen, presiding count on, had to decide if he was even competent to stand his accept trial. His brother Matthew Tortorici said Ralph suffered from delusions for umpteen geezerhood.His delusions led to a confederation theory that he told his father and Matthew that the cops were out to get him. Ralph was born with a defective urethra an d went through a series of operations to fix it. After a while he became convinced that during one of the operations the governance had type preparation a tracking device in his body. When Tortorici was 24 age old he went to the University Health Center and complained that a microchip was put in his penis. When X-rays were raise negative he was convinced that the doctors were in on the plot. Tortorici turned to drugs thinking they could help him escape and it made his mother concerned.One day she called the medical center concerned that her son was suicidal and that he locked himself in the restroom and was smoking crack. They evaluated Tortorici and he was diagnosed with cocaine intoxication, suicidal ideation, and depression. That is when 10 months later he took the students hostage and since he vista the government put a microchip in his brain he wanted tutelage and for it to stop. The prosecutors could not find a psychiatrist expert who would testify, no one wanted their n ame associated with Ralph Tortorici. They wanted to plead the case out and get him sent to a secure psychiatric hospital.Two days into the jury selection Cheryl Coleman effect Dr. Lawrence Seigle to become the expert. She started getting onto the Dr about him being a Jew and how she should know him and what he is going through. This was the first time Cheryl Coleman came breast to face with Ralph. Ralph claimed that the government had developed sound waves and mind waves to control peoples minds and he was part of an experimental project. He was the Anti-Christ and the trail was his graduating party. If you are not there mentally, it is not fair for you to stand trial.The judge moved antecedent with the trial without wanting to set out another competency hearing. Had the judge held off, and in that time, the prosecutor had no evidence and could take a crap found evidence. Coleman was uncomfortable because a prosecutors job is not only to win cases, but to make sure justice is d one. On January 3 Tortorici announced he wouldnt be present for his trial, that he would wait it out in a holding cell in the basement. He thought the tribunal was not just to decide and that the government was behind it and that there were airwaves in the court and everyone knew what was going on and in on it.Ralphs lawyer thought he could win without him being there. Lawyers dont think if you are right or wrong, they think of winning a trial. Jason McEnaney was the student who rushed Ralph and was shot. One of the jurors passed out when McEnaney was testifying in details about his injuries. Defense had many witnesses and four experts who testified that he was legally insane at the time of the horror he committed. The fact he laid out all the bullets grammatical construction he had enough to kill a lot of people. The fact he had the doors tied. The fact he knew the cops were going to be called.The jury never set eyes on him Ralph was carrying out a mission. Defenses say this ca se is a case of simple mental illness. He was operating under a delusion from the voices in his head. Sure, he committed these crimes, but he was legally insane. The prosecutors closing sentence closed with a rush of emotion enjoin at the victim. Youre not taking me seriously, Bam He knew what he was doing. cardinal days of testimony with 31 witnesss, case was handed to jury. By law the judge couldnt say what would happen if found innocent from insanity.He would spend the same time in prison as in a mental hospital. A month later Tortorici returned to the royal court to be sentenced, this time he actually entered the courtroom. Before sentence the judge allowed Ralph to speak. He embarrassed himself by the things he said. Tortorici was sentenced 20 to 47 years in prison and sent to Sullivan Correctional Facility in his own cell in the mental facility. Only in prison for 3 weeks, he tried hanging himself in his cell by his seam sheet. Three years passed and an appeal was filed a nd denied.Tortorici was shuttled between prisons and psychiatric facilities. His family would say he was doing, but he wasnt. Three weeks later on August 10, 1999, Ralph Tortorici was found dead hanging from his bed sheet in his cell. Prosecutor Cheryl Coleman questioned herself when she found out the news on Tortoricis death. She had convicted him and she was feeling guilty and responsible. She had lost a child herself and felt the pain Ralphs mother and family must have felt. Was justice done? In my opinion I think Ralph Tortorici should have got help and been sent to an insane asylum under surveillance.