Mother Slashed Her Children's Throats And Set Them On Fire, Pleads Insanity

A mother accused of slashing her two children’s throats and lighting their Massachusetts home on fire will try an insanity defense in her upcoming trial.
Lawyers for Tanicia Goodwin have also filed motions to toss out evidence that would be used against her, including: Goodwin’s clothing that was soaked with lighter fluid, samples of blood and lighter fluid that were taken from off her body, and statements that she made to police in which she repeatedly said “sorry,” the Salem News reports.
The defense said on Tuesday that their expert has determined Goodwin wasn’t mentally competent, but resisted requests from the prosecution to turn over that report now. At some point, the prosecution will gain access to that medical file and will have their own psychiatrist examine Goodwin.
The 28-year-old’s attorneys allege that police did not immediately inform her of her Miranda rights and that she was not mentally competent at the time of the March 2011 attack.
Her then-3-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son survived, despite serious injuries.
A police sergeant has admitted that he didn’t start off by reading Goodwin her rights, because he thought that an intruder might have attacked her and her children, the Salem News said.

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