Jason Thornburg, convicted of killing three people, claimed religious beliefs dictated his actions, labeling his victims as sacrifices—a justification that the jury disregarded.
Thornburg described his urge to murder as a 'calling,' believing his actions fulfilled a sense of purpose, a notion generally construed by juries as delusion.
The deific decree, a legal defense based on claims of hearing God instructing one to commit murder, is rarely accepted, reflecting skepticism towards religious justifications in court.
Historically, cases like People v. Schmidt show that despite the claim of divine command, juries often dismiss such rationalizations, leading to convictions regardless of the defense.
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