More Stupidity From the World of Law - Northern Edition

Today's legal head-scratcher comes from north of the border, in Ottawa. I know, it sounds like it came from the US, but amazingly that's not the case. It involves an insanity defense plea by Matt Brownlee. Brownlee, 33, was banned from driving for life following a 1996 drunk-driving accident that killed 2 people. He was arrested for drunk driving last October 11 and was charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, failure to comply with probation conditions and driving while disqualified. But it’s OK! No problem! Brownlee had a perfectly good reason for being behind the wheel, according to psychiatrist Dr. Linda Grasswick. Grasswick told the court that Brownlee believes that Shania Twain was helping him drive. He also believed that Twain and other figures would have influence over the court.

And apparently, he was right! A judge ruled Brownlee was not criminally responsible because he suffers from delusions that female celebrities communicate with him telepathically. Well, DUH! Of course it’s a delusion. It’s me with whom Shania communicates telepathically. But if we’ve been drinking, I don’t let either of us get behind the wheel. Not when Canadian judges are letting nutcases like Matt Brownlee roam free.