Opinion ID: 1369544
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Dr. Vliestra

Text: Dr. Vliestra is a child development psychologist who would have testified that Storey turned out differently than his brother, Keith, because his brother benefited from a positive role model later in life. The supporting evidence is that Storey was predisposed to alcoholism because his father, unlike Keith's father, was an alcoholic; Storey was abused by his stepfather; Storey moved too often to develop a peer support group; and Keith left him behind and lived with a positive role model. Counsel felt that Dr. Vliestra's testimony could alienate the jury because the prosecutor would point out that Ms. Frey's entire life had been dedicated to helping this same group of children. The motion court found that Dr. Vliestra's testimony seems geared only to engender sympathy for movant without providing insight into his background related to [Storey's] criminal behavior.