Mankato, MN (Minnesota News Network) - Successful insanity defenses are rare, but a jury in Mankato bought it.

Nobody denied Levi Minissale had stabbed his former girlfriend to death, while trying to kill her husband The defense claimed Minissale's service in the US Marines pushed him to those actions while he was struggling with hallucinations and a Blue Earth County jury agreed after deliberating several hours Friday.The 26-year-old man was found guilty by the same jury last week of killing Yesenia Gonzalez in 2013.

Minissale will now continue his civil commitment at the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter.

He had been diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder before the attack.  He claimed God had ordered him to kill the victim and her husband.

 

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