Dad gets three life terms for murders of twin 7-year-old sons and their mother (Palm Beach, Florida)

Notice all the excuses offered. Daddy NEAL JACOBSON "snapped" because he was (allegedly) bipolar or on anti-depressants. Bull crap.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime/neal-jacobson-sentenced-to-3neal-jacobson-sentenced-to-3-life-terms-with-2202749.html

Neal Jacobson sentenced to 3 life terms, with no parole, for shooting, killing wife and twin sons

By Daphne Duret Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Updated: 3:22 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, 2012

Posted: 12:12 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, 2012

WEST PALM BEACH — Former Wellington mortgage broker Neal Jacobson has been sentenced this afternoon to three life terms, to be served consecutively, for the murders of his wife and twin sons two years ago.

Prosecutors had originally sought the death penalty against Jacobson, 51, but reached a deal with Jacobson's attorneys sparing him that possible sentence.

Jacobson, who appeared before Circuit Judge Stephen Rapp this afternoon, was charged with three counts of first degree murder with a firearm.

Palm Beach Public Defender Carey Haughwout filed a notice with Rapp last week saying there was an agreement in place between her office and prosecutors.

Jacobson, a failed mortgage broker struggling with debt and depression, shot his family on Jan. 24, 2010, the day his twin 7-year-old twin boys, Eric and Joshua, were to celebrate their birthday. He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder with a firearm.

Jacobson at the time of his arrest told investigators that he "just snapped."

Prosecutors had planned to seek the death penalty against Jacobson. Jacobson's defense team in August revealed they planned to pursue an insanity defense, attributing Jacobson's actions to the anti-depressent drugs he was on at the time of the killing.

One of defense's planned witnesses had the case gone to trial was Dr. Peter Breggin, who has testified on behalf of numerous accused killers who were taking high-powered drugs. He was expected to testify that "psychotropic medications prescribed to Mr. Jacobson ... pivotally contributed to Mr. Jacobson's state of mind at the time of the crime," assistant public defender Elizabeth Ramsey wrote in court papers.

Another psychologist was expected to testify that Jacobson is bipolar.

Assistant State Attorney Andrew Slater is the lead prosecutor in the case. Palm Beach County State Attorney Michael McAuliffe had planned to be the second chair in the case, but he is leaving the office next month before the end of his first term for a job in the private sector.

A trial in Jacobson's case had previously been scheduled for December, but attorneys in the case asked for a delay. A status hearing had been scheduled for last Friday but was canceled after the attorneys reached the agreement.