Intoxica

A jury has found Kyle Severin, a man from Ajax, Ontario, guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of his girlfriend. The jury rejected the defence's argument that intoxication should reduce his culpability. The verdict closes a case that drew attention for its contested defence strategy, and Severin now faces an automatic life sentence with a parole ineligibility period to be set.

The National Organization for Women's New York chapter is calling on state lawmakers to hold a special legislative session to close what it describes as a voluntary intoxication loophole, which can allow defendants to use self-induced intoxication as a defense in criminal cases. The group is pressing legislators to act outside the regular session calendar to change the law.

The Revels' 1960s surf instrumental 'Intoxica' is being shared and listened to again, appearing in music posts tagged under surf and music hashtags. The track, a staple of the early surf-rock era and featured in the film 'Pulp Fiction' soundtrack lineage, continues to draw listeners decades on.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has announced her support for legislation to close the state's so-called voluntary intoxication loophole, which can allow criminal defendants to argue intoxication affected their actions. The move comes amid ongoing debate over public safety and criminal justice policy in New York, with lawmakers weighing changes to how intoxication is treated in criminal defenses.