A jury in Burlington, Vermont, has convicted Jason Eaton on three counts of attempted second-degree murder for the 2023 shooting of three Palestinian students who were visiting relatives in the area during the Thanksgiving holiday. The students, Hisham Awartani, Kinnan Abdalhamid, and Tahseen Alaihmad, were attacked near the University of Vermont campus, resulting in injuries that left Awartani partially paralyzed. The jury swiftly rejected Eaton’s insanity defense after only a few hours of deliberation [source].
Attempted second-degree murder, for which Eaton was convicted, differs from first-degree murder, as it typically does not necessitate premeditation. Instead, it requires the intent to kill or actions demonstrating extreme recklessness. During the trial, Eaton claimed he had been following orders from the CIA and Israeli intelligence, allegedly communicated through FM radio via a local NPR station. Eaton’s attorney, Joshua O’Hara, conveyed these claims in an effort to support the insanity defense.
The use of insanity defenses is infrequent and challenging, especially in states like Vermont, where the defendant must prove insanity by a preponderance of the evidence. Although a forensic psychiatrist testified to Eaton’s legal insanity, supported by various evidence, the strategy was unsuccessful. Insanity defenses are rarely successful, often resulting in acquittals only about 25% of the time.
With the guilty verdict, Eaton now faces a potential life sentence without the possibility of parole. His sentencing date remains pending.