Yes, people can meet criteria for an NGI plea even if they have a condition that causes transient symptoms that are sufficient for that state’s statute. Like in the sad case from the same area in NJ, that young man was reportedly diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and was manic at the time of the crime. Manic episodes aren’t especially long-lived, but he was “insane” by the expectations of the NJ statute.
Childhood trauma could certainly be a cause for PTSD (or C-PTSD, a diagnosis someone on these threads suggested was that given to Barisone). Delusional thinking and/or other psychosis aren’t characteristic symptoms of either of those conditions, but the defense must have an expert that believes Barisone meets statutory requirements for the plea related to whatever diagnosis they applied to him. If it IS a trauma-related diagnosis, I will be interested to see how they explain his mental state and how it meets requirements for an NGI plea.
I’m totally speculating, but I suspect it isnt as straight forward as the other NGI case that was in front of judge Taylor, because they are also bringing the self defense plea. Theoretically, in the other NGI case, one could say from that young man’s perspective he was acting in “self defense” (as he had delusional beliefs about the victim that he was possessed by some dangerous entity) but the NGI plea was so clear they didn’t really need it.
