Opinion ID: 3187215
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Testimony of Dr. Perri

Text: After the defense rested, the state trial court called Dr. Perri, as a witness for the court, to testify about Ledford’s mental health. Dr. Perri’s testimony was consistent with his pretrial report. Namely, Dr. Perri testified that Ledford was cooperative, rational, logical, and able to answer questions “in a very good manner.” Dr. Perri testified that Ledford understood the charges pending against 4 At trial, Dr. Herendeen testified that, due to Ledford’s chronic history of alcohol and drug abuse, Dr. Perri should have asked a colleague to perform an MRI, a CAT scan, an EEG, and neuropsychological testing to determine whether Ledford suffered from any organic neurological impairments. As a psychologist, Dr. Herendeen was unable to perform these tests. 13 Case: 14-15650 Date Filed: 03/21/2016 Page: 14 of 103 him, suffered from no delusional compulsion, and understood that killing was wrong. Dr. Perri opined that Ledford was neither criminally insane nor mentally retarded. Dr. Perri testified that Ledford’s IQ was between 70 and 80, which was on the “upper end” of the “borderline range,” but did not indicate mental retardation. Dr. Perri, in fact, supported Ledford’s defense that he was a child-alcoholic and was impaired on the day of Dr. Johnston’s murder. Dr. Perri testified that Ledford had a severe drug and alcohol problem that started at the age of ten. Ledford told Dr. Perri that he would not have killed Dr. Johnston if he “was not messed up.” Ledford also told Dr. Perri that he had six 16-ounce cans of beer and ten marijuana joints on the morning of January 31, 1992. During examination by the state, Dr. Perri testified that Ledford received a skull series, an electroencephalogram, and a brain scan while in state custody at Central State Hospital. Dr. Bonfante, the consulting neurologist, reviewed those tests and determined that Ledford did not suffer from any organic difficulties or neurological damage.