People v. Low
Supreme Court of Colorado
732 P.2d 622 (1987)
Relevant factsFree
After consuming roughly 120 cough drops without sleep over 24 hours, Low became paranoid, believed he was dead and in hell, and stabbed a fellow hunting-trip companion; he pleaded not guilty and specifically waived the insanity and impaired-mental-condition defenses while asserting only involuntary intoxication, yet the trial court acquitted him based on a psychiatrist's testimony that he suffered toxic psychosis negating specific intent, without making any explicit finding of intoxication.
IssueFree
Whether a defendant may introduce evidence of insanity or impaired mental condition to establish a lack of mens rea if the defendant does not affirmatively plead the defenses prior to trial.