The only possible angle on SC's mental state would be to claim an attachment disorder based on June's severe depression. This would not in and of itself be capable of getting to the CoA but it has the potential to provide a formidable add-on.
The reason for this is that attachment is now underpinned by a lot of new science by way of neuroscience that was not available at trial.
I put into AI 'Attachment, neuroscience, suicide, familicide
Attachment neuroscience provides a critical framework for understanding suicide and familicide by examining how early trauma and chronic relational distress alter brain development, emotion regulation, and interpersonal functioning.The Neurobiology of Attachment and TraumaThe HPA Axis: Severe relational trauma (abuse, neglect) in early life often leads to the hyperactivity of the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal (HPA) axis. This creates a compromised stress-response system, structural deficits in the hippocampus, and an inability to regulate intense emotions.Right Brain Development: Early relational trauma specifically impairs the experience-dependent maturation of the right cerebral hemisphere, which is primarily responsible for socio-emotional learning, empathy, and processing attachment cues.Disorganized/Insecure Attachment: This biological deficit manifests psychologically as an insecure or disorganized attachment style. These individuals often struggle to form secure bonds, experience heightened separation anxiety, and default to profound emotional dysregulation.The Pathway to SuicidalityThwarted Belongingness: Insecure attachment—particularly attachment anxiety and avoidance—is a major, well-documented risk factor for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. The resulting isolation and interpersonal difficulties leave individuals highly vulnerable to deep psychological pain and hopelessness.Acquired Capability: The neurobiological dysregulation and impulsivity linked to early trauma can foster an "acquired capability" for suicide, lowering the physiological fear of self-harm.The Psychology of FamilicideFamilicide (the murder of a partner and children, typically followed by the perpetrator's suicide) is often rooted in the intersection of severe attachment insecurity, personality dysfunction, and extreme trauma.Lack of Individuation: Perpetrators often display profound pathological dependency or an anxious-ambivalent attachment style. They view their partners and children as psychological extensions of themselves rather than independent individuals.Trigger of Separation: When a relationship ends or a separation is threatened, it shatters the perpetrator's external emotional "scaffolding". Unable to process the trauma of abandonment and separation, the individual may experience acute decompensation.The "Lethal Solution": In a state of intense affective dysregulation and vengeful anger, the perpetrator acts on a subconscious motivation to prevent the separation. The murder of the family is tragically rationalized as an "altruistic" act (not wanting to leave the family behind to face the world alone) combined with a possessive, vengeful desire to destroy what they feel they are losing. The perpetrator then turns this lethal violence on themselves, completing the suicide.Understanding these intersections underscores the importance of screening for childhood trauma, attachment styles, and dynamic risk factors (like threats of separation and domestic violence) in clinical and family court settings.10 sitesAdolescent Attachment Security, Family Functioning, and Suicide ...the non-attempt group. * Attachment theory would suggest that insecure attachment reflects early childhood experiences where the p...National Institutes of Health (.gov)Attachment Security and Suicide Ideation and Behaviour - PMCPartial correlations, mediation analyses and group comparisons were conducted to explore relationships between these factors. Resu...National Institutes of Health (.gov)Dr. Allan Schore on early attachment and the roots of suicide6 May 2014 — as you're well aware the observations of the early lives of people who go on to make suicide attempts has been studied for some ti...2mYouTube·PsychAliveShow all This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or a diagnosis, consult a professional. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more