Autism Vox

Does millionaire Durst, acquitted of murder, have AS?

by Kristina Chew, PhD on November 27th, 2006

Attorneys for multimillionaire, acquitted murderer Robert Durst, are now claiming that he has Asperger’s Syndrome. As reported in today’s Houston Chronicle:

A jury in 2003 acquitted Durst of murder although Durst admitted dismembering neighbor Morris Black’s body and tossing the parts into Galveston Bay in garbage bags. Durst testified he panicked after Black died from an accidental gunshot to the head as the two struggled over a pistol in Durst’s apartment on Sept. 28, 2001.

Durst testified he was drunk and high on marijuana when he cut up the body. His attorneys told jurors he also suffered from Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism that makes it difficult for sufferers to have normal social contacts and friendships. Black’s legs, arms and torso were recovered but his head was not.

Durst’s parole is set to end on Wednesday, after which he will be free from government supervision.

Publisher Judith Regan’s recent mention of OJ Simpson’s “emotional autism” in reference to his now-not-going-to-published memoir made an unfortunate connection between autism and sociopaths. Linking autism with criminality is a dangerous—potentially very dangerous—generalization.

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POSTED IN: Asperger's Syndrome, Crime, Legal Issues, Psychology