The opening statements by both the state and the defense are in the books.

Each one vastly different than the other, with the state focusing on pulling on the

heartstrings of the jury in order to invoke the desire within them collectively of wanting

vengeance.

It was the easy call, the low-hanging fruit, the topic of what the state had to prove

in order to allow the jury to convict the creep as nearly an afterthought.

As Egan, towards the end, would complete his sentences with words like planning, thoughtfulness,

rational mind.

This was the full extent of which the state believed it needed to cover, what it would have

to be established beyond a reasonable doubt.

The defense was a vastly different story.

The entirety of the opening focused on diffusing the preconceived notions, each and every

one of the jurors walked into the courtroom harboring.

Mata attempted to educate the jury about the distinction between crazy as we use it and

the legal definition of insanity.

My father eloquently informed the members of the jury that Gacy's actions were a compulsion

that he quite simply could not control because he was broken mentally.

My father's no fool, he understood and addressed the elephant in the room, which was that

every person in that courtroom, with maybe the exception of one of his lawyers, wanted

that son of a bitch to fry.

But the law does not allow for revenge, no matter how devastating and vile his actions

were, if Gacy was truly incapable of conforming or controlling his twisted impulses,

...