The Matrix defense
The Matrix defense is the term applied to several legal cases of a defense based on the Matrix films where reality is actually a computer generation—simulism—and that the real world is quite different from what reality is perceived to be.
In using this defense, the defendant claims that he committed a crime because he believed he was in the Matrix, and not in the real world. This is a version of the insanity defense and considered a descendant of the Taxi Driver defense of John Hinckley, one of the first defenses based on blurring reality with the movies.[1]
Regardless of whether the defendant actually believes that he or she was living inside the Matrix, this defense has been used successfully to put users inside of mental-care facilities instead of prisons:
- Tonda Lynn Ansley of Hamilton, Ohio, was found not guilty by reason of insanity using this defense after shooting her landlady in the head in July 2002.[2]
- Vadim Mieseges of San Francisco offered a "Matrix" explanation to police after chopping up his landlady, and was declared mentally incompetent to stand trial.[2]
- Joshua Cooke's lawyers were going to attempt this defense in 2003 in his trial for the murder of his adoptive parents, before he pleaded guilty.[2]
- The case of Lee Malvo also included references to The Matrix, mentioned in the writings taken from his jail cell; he reportedly shouted "Free yourself from the Matrix" from his cell after his arrest, and told FBI agents to watch the film if they wanted to understand him.[2][3][4]
See also
- Chewbacca defense
- King Kong defense
- Simulated reality
- Twinkie defense
References
- ↑ Bean, Matt (May 21, 2003). "'Matrix' makes its way into courtrooms as defense strategy". CNN. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Schone, Mark (November 9, 2003). "The Matrix Defense". The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
- ↑ "Profile: Lee Boyd Malvo". BBC. October 10, 2003. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
- ↑ Chalmers, Phil (2009). Inside the Mind of a Teen Killer. Nashville, Tennessee: Thomas Nelson. p. 55. ISBN 978-1-59555-152-8.