Sunny Hostin Says She Prevented Guilty Verdict in 1991 'Cannibal' Murder Trial Due to Psychosis Evidence

Sunny Hostin recounted her experience as a holdout juror in a 1991 cannibal murder trial. During the September 22 episode of The View, the panel discussed Lindsay Clancy's mistrial. Clancy admitted to killing her three children but pleaded not guilty due to severe postpartum psychosis. Hostin revealed her own experience as a holdout juror in the infamous Daniel Rakowitz case. Rakowitz, known as the Butcher of Tompkins Square Park, killed Monika Beerle in 1989. Hostin described how Rakowitz punched Beerle in the neck, leading to her death. After her death, he dismembered her and allegedly cooked her into a soup. When Hostin supported the insanity defense, other jurors were extremely displeased with her. She asserted, 'he did not mean to kill her, and once he killed her, he panicked.' Despite the anger from jurors, they unanimously voted he was not criminally responsible by reason of insanity. Rakowitz is currently at the Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center, being treated for his illness.