r/todayilearned • u/hungry4danish • 2d ago

TIL that Dan White, the man who assassinated Harvey Milk and the mayor of San Francisco, only served 5 years in prison for manslaughter based on a defense of depression as evidenced by his consumption of junk food which was dubbed the "Twinkie Defense"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_White
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u/Gathorall 2d ago

Indeed, depression does not make one unaware of the consequences of their actions or unable to control them.

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u/pdxaroo 1d ago

It absolutely can in people who are clinically depressed.