Opinion ID: 1214314
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Testimony Actually Introduced

Text: At trial, the Appellant testified regarding the history of abuse, and informed the jury that shortly before the shooting, Mr. Brown had slapped her in the face while they were standing on the porch of their apartment. The Appellant also testified that after she had gone inside to lie down with her cat, Mr. Brown entered the room and repeatedly threw the cat across the room. Testimony was also introduced concerning the Appellant's initial statements immediately after the police arrived at the scene. The Appellant stated, I'm tired of him beating me, and she repeatedly said, domestic abuse, domestic abuse. She told the police, I don't know how many times that I shot, I was just tiredwanted him to stop hitting me. The Appellant also testified that she had experienced psychiatric problems since a 1961 suicide attempt. She testified that Mr. Brown was nasty and resorted to verbal abuse so bad you would be afraid that he might use his fist on you. While she characterized the abuse as infrequent, she did relate an incident in which Mr. Brown had thrown a knife into the wall near her head, close enough that it bothered me. The Appellant's treating psychiatrist from 1993 to 1994, Dr. Jack Dodd, testified that the Appellant suffered bipolar disorder, is alcohol dependent, and has been hospitalized on at least three occasions for treatment of her mental illness. A psychologist employed by Dr. Dodd, Ms. Maria Stallo-Leppla, testified that Mr. Brown's action in throwing the cat across could have prompted a psychotic episode in the Appellant. Dr. Joseph Wyatt, the Appellant's expert psychologist, also diagnosed the Appellant as suffering from bipolar disorder and opined that it was more likely than not that she could not conform her actions to the requirements of the law ... because of the psychotic episode at the time of the shooting. Dr. Wyatt also testified regarding the Appellant's history of mental illness, and instances of physical and emotional abuse. Dr. Wyatt characterized the Appellant as a classic battered spouse, explaining that she had been abused by Mr. Brown and her former husband of twenty-nine years. [3] In addition to the evidence summarized above, the Appellant also sought to introduce further evidence regarding the nature of prior abusive behavior. That evidence, if ruled admissible, would have consisted of testimony by four individuals: Mr. William Congleton, regarding an incident wherein Mr. Brown allegedly brandished a gun upon Mr. Congleton; Officer Tim Goheen, the officer investigating that allegation; Mr. Mark Dillon, the Appellant's son-in law, regarding the prior abuse; and Mrs. Donna Dillon, the Appellant's daughter, regarding her mother's relationship with her late father. The Appellant also asserts that the testimony of Dr. Wyatt was improperly limited. B.