The Trial Of Edmund Kemper

The man gave up, Edmund Kemper was fed up with all of the secrets, the lies, and the hiding that he’s done (BE 1). No one can understand why he’s killed them, why he’s cut them up, and why he’s forced himself on their lifeless bodies. Nothing Edmund Kemper has done can be understood even knowing what he’s gone through (Bonn). Kemper was taken custody on April 23, 1973, after calling the Santa Cruz Police and confessing to his crimes. After killing his mother, Clarnell, and her best friend, Sally Hallet, Kemper drove to Colorado; he thought he’d be charged with the two murders since they took place in Clarnells home (“Edmund Emil Kemper III”). Hours after he had arrived in Colorado he calls the Santa Cruz Police to confess to being the ‘Coed Killer.’ The police don’t listen to him, they

He confessed what he did and how he did it in very detailed descriptions. How his mental state was affected and many times did he try to make himself seem insane. He said he feels remorse for what he’s done and feels terrible for the victim's families; Kemper described that while committing his crimes it felt like a drug and one that he couldn’t get off. He was addicted. The trial lasted a little less than three weeks, and on November 8th Kemper was found guilty of eight counts of first-degree murder (“Edmund Emil Kemper III”). During Kemper’s trials, he tries to plead for insanity, with his Defense attorney, Jim Jackson, agreeing with him. The three psychiatrists who evaluated Kemper say differently, they all agree that while committing his crimes Kemper is fully aware of what he was doing. Kemper, Jackson, and the three psychiatrists ⎼ all agreed that if Kemper were to be released he would kill again (Honig)(SC 9). When asked how he should be punished Kemper asked for ‘death by torture’ except that in California the death penalty only became applicable on January 1, 1974 (“Edmund Emil Kemper