Sounds more like the continuation of one act, she tried to poison them, failed, then strangled them.
Anyhow... first off the woman is not a sociopath. If she was, the kids would not have lived as long. No sociopath would spend years looking after autistic kids, they would have arranged to get rid of the kids very rapidly, and more "accidentally".
Also I think insanity is a valid defense in this case. She from what I read did not show any rational behavior during the incident. There was no premeditation, no attempt at cover-up, concealment, or denial, she apparently called the police right after and confessed in a toneless voice. I would bet that she did not have the social support network of family & friends to help to look after these kids. Most extended families struggle just to look after one severely autistic child in the greater family.
She obviously did care for those children, or they would not have reached the ages of 2 and 5. I think the major cause was she did not have the resources necessary to care for these children, either financially, socially, or emotionally. The pressure of it with I am sure large helpings of despair and hopelessness triggered this psychotic episode (she snapped).
Anyhow I don't feel that she should be held to blame from what I know of the situation. She was in an impossible position from the sounds of it, and broke under the strain psychologically.
|