The Matrix defense is the term applied to several legal cases of a defense based on the Matrix films where reality is 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 they committed a crime because they believed they were in the Matrix, and not in the real world. Using this defense, a defendant can allege they never intended death for their victim because they believed the victim to be alive in the other reality. 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 films.[1]
Regardless of whether the defendant believes that they were 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[]
- Affluenza defence
- Chewbacca defense
- King Kong defense
- Simulated reality
- Shaggy defense
- Twinkie defense
References[]
- ↑ Bean, Matt (May 21, 2003). "'Matrix' makes its way into courtrooms as defense strategy". CNN. http://edition.cnn.com/2003/LAW/05/21/ctv.matrix.insanity/. 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.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Profile: Lee Boyd Malvo". BBC. October 10, 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3178504.stm. 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.
| The Matrix | ||
|---|---|---|
| Films | The Matrix (Score • Soundtrack) • The Matrix Reloaded (Score • Soundtrack) • The Matrix Revolutions (Score • Soundtrack) | |
| Characters | Neo • Morpheus • Trinity • Agent Smith • Agents • Oracle • Architect • Niobe • Merovingian • Persephone • Seraph • Twins • Keymaker | |
| Video games | Enter the Matrix • The Matrix Online • The Matrix: Path of Neo | |
| Universe | Red pill and blue pill • Mega City • Zion • The Matrix • Ships | |
| Creators | The Wachowskis • Geof Darrow • Steve Skroce • Don Davis • Keanu Reeves • Laurence Fishburne • Carrie-Anne Moss • Hugo Weaving | |
| Miscellaneous | The Animatrix (soundtrack) • The Matrix Comics • Digital rain • The Matrix Revisited • The Zion Archive • The Ultimate Matrix Collection • Jacking In to the Matrix Franchise: Cultural Reception and Interpretation • Journey to the Source: Decoding Matrix Trilogy • The Matrix phone • The Official Matrix Exhibit • Accolades • Bullet time • The Matrix defense • MTV Movie Awards Reloaded • Matrixism | |