Colorado v. Estate of Burnell

Arlester L. Burnell, to whom we will refer as Burnell, was charged by information in the district court with the crime of murder. Upon his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, Burnell was granted a separate jury trial on the issue of his sanity. The jury returned a verdict finding Burnell “legally insane at the time of the commission of the alleged crime and is now legally insane.” Pursuant to the judgment entered on the jury verdict, Burnell was committed to the Colorado State Hospital.

In subsequent proceedings in the probate court of the City and County of Denver, Burnell was civilly…