State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Robert A. Breakiron, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that the trial court erred by refusing to charge the jury that evidence of the defendant's mental disease or defect could be relevant to the knowledge or purpose element of murder. The Court affirmed the kidnapping and burglary convictions, reversed the murder conviction, and remanded for a proper diminished‑capacity instruction. It also clarified that the burden on the defendant to prove a mental disease or defect by a preponderance of the evidence does not violate due‑process because the State retains the burden of proving every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.