Opinion ID: 1496366
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: expert testimony on intent

Text: Stewart's next claim of error is that the trial court erred in granting the State's motion in limine which prevented his attorney from questioning the mental health experts on his intent and culpability. The standard of review for a trial court's ruling on the admissibility of expert testimony is abuse of discretion. Utley v. State, 308 Ark. 622, 826 S.W.2d 268 (1992). Expert testimony is admissible when it will aid the jury to understand evidence presented or to determine a fact in issue. Ark.R.Evid. 702; Harris v. State, 295 Ark. 456, 748 S.W.2d 666 (1988). In determining whether expert testimony will aid the trier of fact, the question becomes whether the subject is beyond the ability of a lay person to understand. Utley v. State, supra . Stewart was charged with first degree murder for purposely causing the death of Ragland under Ark.Code Ann. § 5-10-102(a)(2) (Supp.1990). Following his examination by Dr. Blackburn and Dr. Seidel, he moved for acquittal on grounds that he lacked capacity, as a result of mental disease or defect, to conform his conduct to the requirements of law. The motion was denied. The prosecutor then moved in limine to prevent either Dr. Blackburn or Dr. Seidel from testifying as to whether Stewart acted with purpose to cause Ragland's death or, stated another way, whether he lacked the specific intent to do so at the time of the murder. The trial court granted the motion which limited this expert testimony. Jurisdictions in this country have split over the issue of whether expert testimony on the ability of a defendant to form specific intent to murder is admissible. see Admissibility of Expert Testimony As To Whether Accused Had Specific Intent Necessary For Conviction, 16 A.L.R. 4th 666 (1982). The better view, in our judgment, is that it is not. We recognize that psychiatric testimony concerning whether a defendant has the ability to conform his conduct to the requirements of law at the time of the killing as part of an insanity defense may seem in some cases to approximate testimony on whether the defendant had or did not have the required specific intent to commit murder at a precise time. We draw a distinction between the two categories of testimony, however. A general inability to conform one's conduct to the requirements of the law due to mental defect or illness is the gauge for insanity. It is different from whether the defendant had the specific intent to kill another individual at a particular time. Whether Stewart was insane certainly is a matter for expert opinion. Whether he had the required intent to murder Ragland at that particular time was for the jury to decide. Other jurisdictions have held that expert testimony on specific intent to murder is inadmissible. See, e.g., Haas v. Abrahamson, 910 F.2d 384 (7th Cir.1990); State v. Reynolds, 235 Neb. 662, 457 N.W.2d 405 (Neb.1990); State v. Clements, 789 S.W.2d 101 (Mo.App.1990); State v. Bouwman, 328 N.W.2d 703 (Minn.1982). According to the Nebraska Supreme Court, expert testimony on homicidal intent is merely an expression of an expert on how the jury should decide the case. State v. Reynolds, supra . We agree. We further agree that the issue of whether the defendant formulated intent to kill is within the capability of lay jurors to decide. State v. Clements, supra . While expert testimony on whether a defendant lacked the capacity to form intent is probative, we question whether opinion evidence on whether the defendant actually formed the necessary intent at the time of the murder is. State v. Bouwman, supra . Nor do we believe that Ark.R.Evid. 704 allowing opinions embracing an ultimate issue controls this matter. The threshold question under Rule 704 is whether the testimony is otherwise admissible. Under Ark. R.Evid. 702 expert testimony must assist the trier of fact to be probative. Under Ark. R.Evid. 401-403, it must be relevant and not misleading or confusing to the jury. Expert opinion on whether Stewart killed Ragland purposely on March 17, 1990, at least had the potential for being misleading and confusing to the jury. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in refusing to permit the expert opinion concerning the ability of Stewart to form the requisite mental intent at the time he shot Ragland. We affirm its ruling on this point.