Pubdate: Mon, 01 Mar 2004 Source: Decatur Daily (AL) Copyright: 2004 The Decatur Daily Contact: http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/index.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/696 DRUG ADDICTION DEFENSE SHOULD BRING JAIL TIME It's been said before, but it needs saying again: People who use drugs as a defense for a crime should have an additional sentence tacked on, even if they are found not guilty of their original charge. Consider 29-year-old James Ben Brownfield, who a Scottsboro jury convicted of capital murder last week in the 2001 Christmas slayings of his sister, her 3-year-old grandson and estranged husband. All were beaten to death with a hammer. Mr. Brownfield's defense was that he was in a drug stupor during the killings. His defense attorney contended his client was not responsible because he had been taking crystal methamphetamine and the sedative-hypnotic agent Xanax when he confessed to the murders. At this point, Circuit Judge Jenifer Holt should have stopped the testimony and recommend that the district attorney file drug charges against Mr. Brownfield. A person killing, robbing, assaulting, or otherwise inflicting themselves on another individual should never be allowed to claim drug use as a defense. Those who habitually use drugs, just as those who habitually use alcohol, are not forced by anyone to indulge in their habits. If judges could disallow such a defense, it would be interesting to see what, or who, some of these individuals would then choose to blame for their actions. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom