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Question
Dr. Lane, a university chemist with a long history of psychotic episodes, became convinced that a museum's antique compass was a device sending poisonous signals to children. His treating psychiatrist had warned him that the belief was a symptom of his illness, but Lane insisted that a higher power had ordered him to remove the compass immediately.
Lane bought a ticket to the museum, waited until a guard left the gallery, disabled a small alarm with tools he had brought, smashed the display case, and ran out with the compass. As he fled, he told a bystander, "The police will not understand, but the criminal code cannot apply to a divine rescue." After his arrest, Lane was able to describe the court process and communicate coherently with counsel, although he still believed the compass was dangerous.
Lane is charged with burglary, larceny, and property damage. Analyze Lane's potential insanity defense under the M'Naghten, irresistible-impulse, and Model Penal Code substantial-capacity approaches. Also explain how insanity differs from competency to stand trial and from a failure of mens rea.