Trial of Patty Hearst

The trial of Patty Hearst involved her being accused of participating in a bank robbery with the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) after she was kidnapped and allegedly brainwashed by them in 1974. She claimed she was acting under duress and psychological influence. The prosecution argued she voluntarily aided in the crime. In 1976, Patty was convicted of bank robbery and other charges but later received a commutation from President Carter. Her case raised complex questions about free will, coercion, and the effects of psychological manipulation in criminal behavior.