While the defense never claimed that Twinkies directly caused his violent actions, they used his diet as evidence of his deteriorating mental health, contributing to his diminished capacity to premeditate the murders. The jury ultimately convicted White of voluntary manslaughter instead of murder, leading to public outrage and protests, including the White Night Riots in San Francisco. The term "Twinkie defense" has since entered pop culture as shorthand for absurd or overly creative legal arguments, though its original meaning was more about mental health than junk food itself.
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