Opinion ID: 1381947
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Expert Evaluations and Testimony

Text: Trial counsel had Edwards evaluated by three experts prior to trial: Doctors Cross, Stacey, and Rabun. The purpose of these evaluations was to determine whether Edwards was competent to stand trial and whether he had any mental disease or defect that could provide a defense or significant mitigating evidence. These experts met with Edwards and family members, conducted testing on Edwards, and reviewed school, work, and medical records. None of these experts concluded that Edwards was incompetent to stand trial or that he had a mental disease or defect that could provide a defense. Dr. Cross did mention to trial counsel that he thought Edwards might have an unspecified developmental disability. The three experts who testified as part of the Rule 29.15 hearing were Dr. Logan, a psychiatrist, Dr. Draper, a developmental specialist, and Dr. Cross, a clinical psychologist. All three agreed that Edwards showed signs consistent with Asperger's Disorder, [1] a developmental disorder that is related to, but separate from, autism. Prior to the Rule 29.15 evaluations, no one had ever diagnosed Edwards with Asperger's Disorder. His school records did not indicate any serious developmental problems. Dr. Draper, a developmentalist and professor with a Ph.D., testified that Edwards has the characteristics of Asperger's Disorder, but did not make a diagnosis of Asperger's. Dr. Draper wrote her report after interviewing Edwards and family members and reviewing records. Dr. Cross evaluated Edwards both prior to and after trial. He has a Ph.D. and is a licensed psychologist in Missouri. Dr. Cross did not diagnose Asperger's Disorder or any other condition prior to trial. At the Rule 29.15 hearing, Dr. Cross testified that when he evaluated Edwards prior to trial, he had been provided with school and work records and police reports. He was not provided with a formal social history, but he believes that a social history is essential to a proper evaluation. Although Dr. Cross said that trial counsel stated their intention to send him birth and medical records, he did not receive them. He never requested the records from counsel, even though counsel's letter requested that he contact them if he needed any additional information. He never requested a more detailed social history. He interviewed Mildred (Edwards' mother), Jada (Edwards' second wife), one of Edwards' daughters, and Edwards. During these pretrial interviews, Mildred stated that Edwards' development was normal and that he did not have any problems in school. Mildred did not provide details about domestic violence in the home. Mildred mentioned that she had suffered from depression but did not elaborate on the extent or cause. Dr. Cross did not receive Mildred's medical records, nor did he request them from counsel. As part of his pretrial evaluation, Dr. Cross administered several intelligence and personality tests. Edwards' verbal I.Q. was 115, but his performance I.Q. was only 90. Dr. Cross testified that this spread indicated a developmental learning disability and that he mentioned this suspicion to Edwards' trial attorneys. The testing did not show that Edwards had a major mental illness or indicate that Edwards had been abused as a child. After he reported his initial results, Dr. Cross was notified that trial counsel did not want him to submit a formal report. He was later contacted by post-conviction counsel and asked to interview Edwards again and give an opinion. Dr. Cross testified that the social history provided by post-conviction counsel contained important information that was useful in diagnosing Edwards. After trial, Dr. Cross interviewed Mildred several more times, and she gave information contrary to her pretrial interviews. This information included details about Edwards' lack of attachment and failure to play with other children, as well as details about the abuse within the home. Dr. Cross did not believe that it would have been possible to elicit this information from Mildred before trial because it was very difficult for Mildred to emotionally manage that kind of disclosure at that time. Before he had reviewed all of the records from post-conviction counsel, Dr. Cross attended a meeting with Drs. Draper and Stacey and post-conviction counsel. The purpose of that meeting was to theorize a little bit about what might be a possible diagnosis for Edwards. Dr. Cross did not remember who first mentioned the diagnosis of Asperger's, but was sure that he did not raise it. Dr. Cross suggested that counsel retain a psychiatrist because I wanted someone who could confirm my diagnosis[.] In reaching his diagnosis, Dr. Cross also relied on the written report of Dr. Stacey, who was consulted both before and after trial but who did not testify. Dr. Stacey's diagnosis was a pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, with a secondary diagnosis of narcissistic personality. Dr. Cross testified that this diagnosis, although not identical, was consistent with his diagnosis of Asperger's. Dr. Logan, a psychiatrist, was the last post-conviction expert consulted. At the time he was consulted, there had already been a meeting ... that had formed a diagnostic impression that Mr. Edwards suffered from some type of pervasive developmental disorder, primarily Asperger's Disorder. Dr. Logan believed that there had been some suggestion ... that they get a psychiatrist to take a look at things. Dr. Logan's job was to determine whether he agreed with that diagnosis and to determine how that diagnosis might have affected Edwards' participation in his trial. Dr. Logan concluded that Edwards suffered from Asperger's Disorder. Dr. Logan did not conduct his own interviews of Mildred and did not prepare his own social history. Dr. Logan believed that the diagnosis of Asperger's Disorder would have been mitigating evidence at trial because it would have explained Edwards' demeanor and occasional inappropriate facial expressions, as well as his inability to work out problems in collaboration with others.