Opinion ID: 2590208
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Rage Remark

Text: Dr. Melhorn testified that Troy had suffered nine multidirectional traumas to his head. She stated to the jury that blunt trauma to the head is inconsistent with ordinary bumps and accidental collisions with furniture and stairs. She based her opinion on her experience and on a study of autopsy findings where children who had died of accidental injuries were compared with autopsy findings of children who died from suspected child abuse caused injuries. Dr. Melhorn was asked by the prosecutor what it would take for someone to intentionally inflict the nine multidirectional traumas Troy had suffered. Dr. Melhorn replied, This takes a person in a rage. The defense attorney objected. The judge stated, The speculation as to what emotional content might be in a person's mind, I think, is too far. So you can testify as to what you think may have caused it, but not to what their emotional state may be. Dr. Melhorn confined her response to the type of blows Troy's injuries indicated, i.e., repetitive blunt trauma with forceful back and forth shaking. Although Dr. Melhorn's rage remark was outside the scope of expert medical testimony, it was objected to and immediately corrected and does not form the basis for trial error.