The Salvi Case

Some years ago a man called John Salvi attacked two abortion clinics in the Boston area. He killed two persons and wounded seven other people. He was prosecuted for murder. At the trial his defense (entered over his objection) was insanity.

Salvi insisted on representing himself. Salvi’s amicus attorney tried to have Salvi testify: This attorney expected that Salvi would testify that there was a world-wide conspiracy against Catholics by freemasons, the media, and, possibly, by yet other groups and organizations.

The trial judge refused to allow Salvi to testify, partly because she thought that his testimony would have been irrelevant and partly also because Salvi had made it clear that he would refuse to answer many legally-proper questions during cross-examination, including, for example, questions that he thought invaded his privacy.

Salvi was convicted. His attorneys appealed. The principal question on appeal was whether the trial court improperly abridged Salvi’s right to testify in his own behalf.

The case was never heard or decided on appeal because Salvi committed suicide in his jail cell.

Salvi’s victims expressed satisfaction at his suicide.

Salvi’s attorney suggested that the suicide demonstrated the he, the attorney, was right all along in saying that Salvi was a paranoid schizophrenic. 

Salvi’s parents expressed relief that their son had gained release from the mental torment they thought he had been in for much of his life.