"twinky" defense

"twinky" defense

n. a claim by a criminal defendant of that at the time of the crime he/she was of diminished mental capacity due to intake of too much sugar as from eating "Twinkies," sugar-rich cupcakes. The defense was argued successfully by a psychiatrist for the defendant in the notorious case of former San Francisco County Supervisor Dan White who shot and killed San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and County Supervisor Harvey Milk, resulting in White's conviction for only manslaughter instead of murder. (See: diminished capacity)