Opinion ID: 2509517
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The instruction limiting the use of Dr. Chris Hatcher's testimony

Text: The trial court gave this limiting instruction: The testimony of Dr. Chris Hatcher was received in evidence and may be considered by you only for the limited purpose of explaining, if it does, the meaning of certain pieces of evidence offered in this case, to explain the general phenomena of sexual fantasies and to provide information on the subject of the behavior and mental processes of children who are abducted for the purpose of violent sexual assault and persons who commit such crimes. He testified to a generalized body of knowledge. However, should you find that there are facts in this case which are or may be explained by such testimony you may consider the testimony for that purpose. However, such evidence was not received and may not be considered by you, to prove that the defendant is a person of bad character or that he has a disposition to commit crimes. Further, Dr. Hatcher did not examine [defendant] nor did he express any opinion about the defendant or how the crime actually occurred. (Italics added.) Defendant correctly observes that the inclusion of the italicized phrase permitted the jurors to consider Dr. Hatcher's testimony as information relevant to defendant's mental processes. But this observation simply returns us to the issue previously discussed: May the jury consider, as aggravating evidence under section 190.3, factor (a), evidence of defendant's mental illness insofar as it relates to the circumstances of the crime? Our conclusion that it may do so resolves the controversy over the jury instruction; if the jurors can consider Dr. Hatcher's testimony as evidence relating to defendant's mental processes, it cannot be error to tell them they may do so.