The implications of the case before Judge Lehmberg strained the rule of law, went beyond strict legal concepts of guilt and innocence, generating moral, philosophical, even existential questions. Anyone could see that the man on trial had no guilty conscience. Tehlirian was so certain of his right to kill Talat that he could look the judge in the eye and confidently claim the moral high ground. As far as Tehlirian was concerned, he had no free will in the matter; he was compelled by his very soul to kill the man who had killed his family. Who could debate him?
