Opinion ID: 1439724
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Manifested and documented before eighteen years of age

Text: Lastly, section 565.030.6 specifically requires that a defendant establish mental retardation that is manifested and documented before eighteen years of age. This requirement is also taken from the DSM-IV, which lists mental retardation as a Disorder Usually First Diagnosed in Infancy, Childhood, or Adolescence, and requires for diagnosis, that the onset is before age 18 years. DSM-IV, Sec. 319 at 49. All of Goodwin's testing, before age 18 and as discussed above, indicates that he was not retarded. The standard supplied in Johnson v. State was a preponderance of the evidence. 102 S.W.3d at 540. Goodwin has not shown credible evidence of retardation, but only gives a claim unsupported by facts, rejected by the motion court, and wholly refuted by the record at the original trial and by the evidence introduced before the motion court below. The motion court did not clearly err in finding that Goodwin presented no documented evidence of retardation prior to age 18. Nor did the motion court clearly err in rejecting Goodwin's new 29.15 claim of retardation.