Varnell Weeks

Case details

Varnell Weeks was executed in Alabama by electrocution on May 12, 1995.

Background

Weeks was diagnosed as being severely mentally ill and suffering from a “longstanding paranoid schizophrenia.” Psychiatrists for both the defense and the prosecution diagnosed Weeks as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, with symptoms including hallucinations and delusions.

Psychiatrists for both the defense and prosecution agreed that Weeks suffered from pervasive and bizarre religious delusions. Weeks believed that he was God. He believed that his execution was part of a millennial religious scheme to destroy humankind, and that he would not die but would be transformed into a giant tortoise and reign over the universe. An Alabama judge acknowledged that Weeks believed he was God in various manifestations and that he was a paranoid schizophrenic who suffered delusions. The judge ruled that Weeks was “insane” according to “the dictionary generic definition of insanity” and what “the average person on the street would regard to be insane.” The judge ruled that the electrocution could proceed because Weeks’ ability to answer a few limited questions about his execution proved that he was legally “competent.” At a hearing to determine his competency for execution, Weeks appeared with a domino tied to a string on his shaved head. In response to the judge’s questions, he responded with a rambling discourse on serpents, “cybernetics”, albinos, Egyptians, the Bible and reproduction. In addition, prison records revealed that Weeks would on occasion stand in his cell naked and smeared with feces, making incomprehensible sounds.

The offence

Weeks was executed for murder.

Trial and sentencing

No evidence of Weeks’ mental condition was introduced at the trial. Once he had been convicted, he waived the jury sentencing. He asked the (elected) judge to sentence him to death. Weeks was convicted, and after conviction he asked for a death sentence.

Competency for execution

The judge acknowledged Weeks’ mental illness and delusions. The judge stated that Weeks was “insane” according to “the dictionary generic definition of insanity” and what “the average person on the street would regard to be insane”. However, the judge ruled that the electrocution could proceed because Weeks’ ability to answer a few limited questions about his execution proved that he was legally “competent.”

Other details

David Bruck, a lawyer who had represented numerous capital defendants, said:

“The death penalty is an absolute punishment. If it is to be imposed at all, it should be imposed on people whose sense of responsibility and judgment is such that they fully appreciated the seriousness of what they were doing.” The narrative discussed diminished capacity for mentally disadvantaged defendants in capital cases and asserted that mentally ill and mentally retarded defendants were excluded from execution. It also stated that the U.S. Supreme Court mandated that mental disorders are mitigating factors. The narrative included estimates that 10 percent of all current death-row inmates are mentally ill and another 10 percent are mentally retarded, translating to more than 600 mentally disadvantaged defendants currently under sentence of death at the time described.