Opinion ID: 2575818
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The State's Use of Battered Woman's Syndrome

Text: [¶ 19] In its case-in-chief, the State presented the testimony of Dr. Christopher B. Reyburn, a psychiatrist, concerning battered woman's syndrome. Dr. Reyburn testified generally about the behaviors associated with the syndrome. He did not testify concerning the victim or whether she exhibited behaviors typical of persons suffering from the syndrome. He also did not testify concerning the characteristics of batterers or Mr. Thomas' behavior. In closing argument, the State used Dr. Reyburn's testimony concerning battered woman's syndrome to explain the victim's behavior in relation to Mr. Thomas and the assault. Mr. Thomas asserts the State's use of the battered woman's syndrome testimony was plain error. [¶ 20] Plain error occurs when the record shows an error that transgressed a clear and unequivocal rule of law and adversely affected a substantial right. Janssen, 2005 WY 123, ¶ 14, 120 P.3d at 1010. We have said, [b]attered-woman-syndrome testimony is admissible and helpful to the jury; however, it must not run afoul of W.R.E. 404(a), which provides in pertinent part: Evidence of a person's character or a trait of his character is not admissible for the purpose of proving that he acted in conformity therewith on a particular occasion. When battered-woman-syndrome testimony is raised by the State in its case-in-chief and relates to a defendant . . . the testimony `draws close to commenting directly on what likely happened' and `looks like character evidence after all.' Evidence concerning a defendant's involvement demands close scrutiny under the character evidence rules. This is so even if reference to the defendant may only be inferred from the testimony. Kenyon v. State, 2004 WY 100, ¶ 21, 96 P.3d 1016, 1025 (Wyo.2004) (citations omitted). [¶ 21] In Kenyon, expert testimony concerning battered woman's syndrome was presented to explain the victim's irrational behavior in answer to the defendant's specific defenses that the victim's behavior proved he had not battered or kidnapped her. We said, An explanation of the victim's conduct is admissible, and to the extent that it describes characteristics of those in the relationship, those references are an integral part of admissible framework evidence and not character evidence. Kenyon, 2004 WY 100, ¶ 23, 96 P.3d at 1025. [¶ 22] Mr. Thomas argues, however, the testimony and argument were improperly allowed because they concerned character evidence and raised the inference that he acted in conformity with the traits of a batterer when he assaulted the victim. In support of this contention, he cites the language from Kenyon, cautioning that when battered woman syndrome evidence is used by the prosecution in its case-in-chief, it raises the specter of character evidence and must be carefully scrutinized. He also cites Skinner v. State, 2001 WY 102, 33 P.3d 758 (Wyo. 2001) and Ryan v. State, 988 P.2d 46 (Wyo. 1999). [¶ 23] As mentioned above, in Kenyon we held the evidence was admissible when used to explain the victim's behavior. In Skinner, the State called an expert witness to testify concerning not only the behaviors of battered women but also the characteristics of batterers and the type of conduct they tend to exhibit. We held the profile testimony was inadmissible (although harmless) because its only purpose was to imply that because the defendant had a history of battering his wife, he had done so on this occasion as well. Skinner, 2001 WY 102, ¶ 30, 33 P.3d at 768. Ryan likewise involved expert testimony concerning the characteristics of batterers and we held that portion of the testimony inadmissible. [¶ 24] Having carefully reviewed the record presented in this case, we find no plain error in the district court's decision to allow Dr. Reyburn's testimony and the State's argument concerning battered woman's syndrome. Dr. Reyburn's testimony concerned the behavior of victims of abuse and did not address the characteristics or behaviors of perpetrators of abuse. The State used the testimony in closing argument to explain why someone who had been abused would go back into or stay in the abusive relationship. This is a permissible use of battered woman's syndrome evidence.