Opinion ID: 1279824
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Offers of Proof.

Text: During trial, outside the jury's presence, Reynolds made offers of proof through two psychiatrists, Drs. John Baldwin and Emmett M. Kenney. According to Dr. Baldwin: [T]houghtful or rational deliberation [is when] consequences are weighed, values are added, the need and the importance of the need is determined and choices are thought of or options are thought of and this would be a more reflective or what we call in our field premeditative act. Responding to defense counsel's inquiries whether Terry Reynolds deliberated or premeditated shooting Dodge, Dr. Baldwin testified: At the time the deputy was killed, I felt he was deliberate insofar as he deliberately lashed out at another human being. He wanted to stop, hurt, injure something of that nature, to this human being and the act was focused on that deputy sheriff. [However], the rational level of contemplation of an act did not occur. I do not feel he weighed other options of expressing whatever hostility he was expressing. I do not feel he weighed the consequences of the act. I do not feel he thought of the pros and con and what possible gain or good it could do for him. I do not feel he was the least bit aware of the emotional forces that were causing him to act in that direction. Defense counsel then referred to the definition of deliberate contained in NJI 14.-10: `Deliberate' is defined as not suddenly, not rashly; but requires that the defendant considered the probable consequences of his act before doing the act. Q. ... Using that definition, do you have an opinion that you have reasonable professional confidence in as to whether in fact Terry Reynolds deliberated at the time the gun discharged and Deputy Craig Dodge was killed? A. Yes, I have an opinion. Q. And can you tell us, please, what the opinion is, did he deliberate using that definition? A. Using that definition, I do not feel he deliberated. Dr. Baldwin further stated that his definition for meditated was similar or equal to his definition for deliberate and concluded that when Craig Dodge was killed, Terry Reynolds was acting impulsively, that is, the act was impulsive. As an additional offer of proof, Reynolds called Dr. Kenney, who expressed his opinion that Reynolds neither premeditated nor deliberated the killing of Deputy Craig Dodge and that Reynolds' responsive action regarding Dodge's presence fits his [Reynolds'] usual pattern of behavior under stress.... It was an impulsive act.