Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development Volume 33 Issue 2 Volume 33, Summer 2020, Issue 2 Article 5 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Mental Disease or Defect That Can Trigger a Successful Criminal Defense Thomas Mosczczynski Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarship.law.stjohns.edu/jcred Part of the Criminal Law Commons, and the Criminal Procedure Commons This Note is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at St. John's Law Scholarship Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development by an authorized editor of St. John's Law Scholarship Repository. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. DOCUMENT1 (DO NOT DELETE) 4/18/2020 5:42 PM CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY: MENTAL DISEASE OR DEFECT THAT CAN TRIGGER A SUCCESSFUL CRIMINAL DEFENSE By: Thomas Mosczczynski INTRODUCTION When he was a child, he was called kind, gentle and even sweet.1 He started playing football at a young age that ripened into a successful high school career that lasted from 2004 to 2007.2 He was a dominant force on the gridiron under the Friday night lights as he played both offense and defense—rarely missing a play.3 College scouts took notice, and suddenly, the world was his oyster.4 A small-town kid from Bristol, Connecticut became the talk of college recruiters across the country.5 In 2007, a year after the death of his father, the quiet kid from Bristol moved to Gainesville, Florida where he played three incredible years as the tight end position at the University of Florida.6 That same year, 1 See Kalyn Kahler, Aaron Hernandez, According to the Journalists Who Covered Him, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (Apr.