© Yavapai County Sheriff’s OfficeKenneth Wayne Thompson
Kenneth Wayne Thompson is arguing that the religion will help a jury understand his actions on the day he allegedly bludgeoned his sister-in-law and her boyfriend to death with a hatchet and then set their home ablaze, the Arizona Republic reported.
Jurors were asked about their views on Scientology during jury selection in the Arizona murder trial, the paper reported - and Tom Cruise's name was mentioned during opening arguments.
Prosecutors say the death penalty is called for because the March 2012 killings were premeditated. Thompson had driven non-stop for more than 24 hours from his home in rural Missouri to reach the couple's home in Prescott Valley, they argue.
But Thompson's attorneys plan to tell jurors that Thompson's beliefs explain away the marathon drive.
Thompson traveled to Arizona because his beliefs dictated he needed to be there to rescue his wife's nephew, the paper said.
Thompson believed the nephew's eternal soul was at risk because he was being treated with medicines for psychological issues - something the religion opposes, according to the report.
Thompson's attorneys have subpoenaed church records and they have asked for testimony from Scientology experts, including actress and ex-adherent Leah Remini.
Prosecutors are fighting defense efforts to call the experts to the stand.
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This article just says;
"Thompson believed the nephew's eternal soul was at risk because he was being treated with medicines for psychological issues"
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Meanwhile over here;
"Thompson and his wife took care of Edwards’ children while she was in prison. The kids were returned to her upon her release, but the defendant and his spouse were concerned about their well-being. In particular, he was worried about one of the children being cared for by mental health examiners at a hospital."
"As part of the Scientology belief system, the defendant was taught that psychology was a major evil."
“One of the central tenets (of Scientology)–and it was core to the whole wider system of beliefs–is that psychology is evil, probably the most evil thing on planet earth,” Defense lawyer Robert Gundacker said."[Link]
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Quite frankly I don't disagree with the contention that psychology is an extreme threat to all of us. This so called medical field has a livid history of humanitarian abuses. I sympathize with the defendant's beliefs and suspicions. Unfortunately he would have profited more from setting his sister in law up as a drug dealer, then maybe the police would have just shown up and killed the both of them legally, as they did in Huston a couple days ago to some perfectly innocent and lovely people.
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