Based on the case brief, explain in academic paragraphs, if justice was served? Incorporate feelings on the case. How does it compare to criminal proceedings today? Incorpate topics from a criminal law class to explain the reasoning.

Case Brief:

#1 John Selby Watson

Case: John Selby Watson; Killing, Murder. January 8, 1872. Reference #:t18720108-117

Facts: John Selby Watson, a 67 year old retired headmaster, was charged with the willful murder of his wife Anne Watson, At Stockwell which is in the county of Surrey. The prosecution was led by George Denman with Messrs. Poland and Beasley, and Mr. Serjeant Parry with Hon. A. Thesiger represented the defense. George Greenham is from the Metropotolitan Police Force and described the layout of the home in Stockwell. The servant, Eleanor Mary Pyne (20), testified her experience working for Mr. Watson and Anne Watson for 3 years. Eleanor stated that they were a very quiet couple and seemd to get along, only thing that was noted was that they started sleeping in different rooms during the hot summer. On the day of October 8th, 1871, the couple had their regular daily routine until Eleanor went out for the night snd came back around 9pm. Mr. Watson said Anne had gone out for the night and would not be back till tomorrow; he also informed her that the stain in the library was a port wine stain and to not enter the small room in the back of the library since Anne had locked it. As days passed, Mr. Watson said she would not be home for 2-3 days more. That following Tuesday he told Eleanor to fetch for the doctor if he became ill, and he said the same thing again on Wednesday. On Wednesday, soon after their conversation, Eleanor heard groaning and found him unconscious and ill in bed, which she immediatly fetched Dr. Rugg. Eleanor noticed three papers on the chair before she fetched the doctor and they read "For the servant, Ellen Pyne, exclusive of her wages. Let no suspicion fall on the servant, whom I believe to be a good girl." Once the doctor arrived he checked on Mr. Watson and then fetched the police; the police found the body of Anne Watson. Eleanor claimed she did not see her body, the stains on the window, the furniture, or that he had owned pistols. Eleanor said she did her duties and nothing more, no boundaries or personal itesm were seen. She said that Anne was sometimes kind and sometimes hasty with her, while Mr. Watson was always kind and a reserved man. Dr. George Philip Rugg is a doctor of medicine who lived and worked at Stockwell Villas, Clapham Road. Dr. Rugg had only known Mr. Watson from one incident when his old servent was ill but they did not interact. He was called to the home on October 11 by Eleanor, he claimed Mr. Watson was 'he was unconscious, breathing heavily, with difficultyhis eyes were turned up, there was a cold clammy perspiration on him, and he had a weak, soft, compressible pulse, an intermittent pulseI thought he was labouring under an attack of epilepsy first'. Eleanor handed the note titled and read "For The Surgean: I have killed my wife in a fit of rage to which she provoked me; often, often has she provoked me before, but I never lost restraint over myself with her till the present occasion, when I allowed fury to carry me a way Her body will be found in the room adjoining the library, the key of which I leave with the paper. I trust she will be buried with the attention due to a lady of good birth. She was an Irish-woman. Her name was Anne". In that letter was also a key to the small room that held Anne's body, Dr. Rugg examined her body and noticed multiple head wounds, a fractured skull, as well as bloody clothes. After the post-examination there were 8 abrasions to her head, fissure of the skull, and abrasions on her wrists and hips. Dr. Rugg determined from some investigating that Mr. Watson poisened himself with prussic acid that he got from a chemist in suspicion that he was trying to commit suicide. Dr. Rugg returned to check on Mr. Watson weeks after his incident and claimed he was acting peculiar and possibly insane. George Davis (police inspector) explain dhis encounter with Mr. Watson and the scene, George Hazel (police sergeant) explain dhis encounter at Mr. Watson's home and he found bloody shirts, John Huey (police sergeant) questioned and observed Mr. Watson, Thomas Giddings (police sergeant) saw three pistols in his drawer, Edmund Pope (police surgeon) saw Anne's body and cared for Mr. Watson after he confessed, Dr. John Muter (director of South London School of Chemistry) found acid in the wine bottles and blood stains, Charles Turner (trunk maker) had Mr. Watson ask for a trunk before the murder, John Fells (chemist) sold him prussic acid, Ann Tulley (house keeper for another couple and used to lived at the school) heard an argument inside the home on the 8th and talked to Mr. Watson for thirty minutes, etc. They interviewed over 25 people who had encounters with Mr. Watson at some point in the week leading up and after the murder of his wife Anne. Throughout all of the interviews, questionings, and interactions, many doctors believed him to be of an 'unsound' mind and many of his acquaintances noticed his change in demeanor. The defence raised a plea of diminished responsibility, suggesting Watson's mental state at the time of the crime might have reduced his culpability. Watson was found guilty and sentenced to death despite th ejury strongley suggesting mercy due to his age and previous good character.

The Issue: Was John Selby Watson guilty of wilful (intentional and premeditated) murder considering his mental state?

The Holding/Rule: The court found John Watson guilty of murder with intent due to not enough sufficient evidence of insanity.

The Reasoning:The prosecution successfully demonstrated that Watson killed his wife in a fit of anger, possibly during a domestic argument. The defense attempted to plea Watson of his responsibility due to his mental state during the crime. However, the jury did not accept this argument, and they convicted Watson based on the evidence of deliberate intent. Watson had attempted to cover up the murder by hiding her body, he was looking for a trunk shortly after, he tried to end his life, and he admitted to intentionally killing her in the three letters he wrote.Dicta: In this case, the judge commented on the tragic nature of domestic violence and how it often escalates into severe harm, but these remarks did not impact the legal reasoning or the verdict itself.