Opinion ID: 2600675
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Prosecution experts

Text: Neuropsychologist Dr. John Walker reviewed defendant's transcribed statement and the police reports of the crimes. Based upon that material, Dr. Walker did not believe that defendant suffered from psychosis at the time of the crimes. Upon being re-called, Dr. Reese Jones testified that analysis of an individual's serotonin levels present in blood was of limited utility. He explained that, among other limitations, serotonin is but one of 80 to 100 different neurotransmitters that interact with one another in the human body, and that analysis of the level of serotonin present in blood is not as accurate or predictive of brain activity as would be analysis of serotonin in spinal fluid or brain tissue. Dr. Jones testified that the results of the December 14, 1989 blood assay of defendant's serotonin levels reflecting the presence of less than 10 nanograms of serotonin per milliliter of blood suggested errors in testing, because the body requires some level of serotonin to function. Although low levels of serotonin may indicate a history of mental disturbance or cocaine use, an abnormally low level of serotonin probably would not be attributable to the effects of cocaine last used six months earlier. Having reviewed the police reports, defendant's statement, and the testimony of Dr. Smith and Dr. Crinella, Dr. Jones also expressed doubt concerning Crinella's opinion that defendant suffered a psychotic episode during the period in which he committed the crimes. Dr. Jones pointed out that during this period, defendant did not display catatonic stupor or excitement, hallucinations or illusions, psychotic delusions, incoherence, or extremely disorganized behavior. The jury reached its verdict on October 30, 1990, finding defendant guilty of the offenses as charged, with the exceptions that defendant was found guilty of second degree murder of Marie Ann Richards and was acquitted of attempted murder of Mrs. Butti. The jury found true the firearm use, knife use, and great-bodily-injury allegations as well as the multiple-murder special-circumstance allegation.