Opinion ID: 1993454
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Testimony With Regard to McGhee's Mental State.

Text: Dr. Bruce Gutnik testified for McGhee. Gutnik testified that he evaluated McGhee for approximately 1½ hours and diagnosed him with paranoid schizophrenia with a history of alcohol and cannabis abuse and possible dementia. Gutnik testified that in his opinion, McGhee did not know the difference between right and wrong at the time McGhee shot Lowry. Gutnik additionally testified that he thought McGhee probably did understand that by pointing a gun at Lowry's head and pulling the trigger, Lowry would be severely injured and probably killed, but that McGhee believed he was acting in self-defense. Gutnick also testified that McGhee's actions in evading police, disposing of evidence, and denying responsibility were not inconsistent with the conclusion that McGhee did not know right from wrong. Gutnik reasoned that McGhee had been psychotic and that one should not read too much into McGhee's thought process, as it was not likely to be logical or rational. Gutnik testified about allegations that McGhee might have been malingering, or faking his symptoms, in order to delay or prevent his return to competency and later for purposes of the insanity defense. According to his testimony, Gutnik did not believe that McGhee was malingering. Gutnik also testified that smoking wet could cause delusions and hallucinations, but that those effects should wear off within 6 to 8 hours. Dr. Louis Martin, a psychiatrist with the Lincoln Regional Center, testified for the State. Martin had been McGhee's treating psychiatrist for at least 2 years during the time when McGhee had been committed pending his return to competency. Martin's initial diagnosis of McGhee was that McGhee suffered from schizophrenia with a history of substance abuse. In contrast to Gutnik, Martin testified that at the time McGhee shot Lowry, McGhee understood both what he was doing and the nature of his act, and that in spite of McGhee's mental ill-ness, Martin felt McGhee had a basic understanding that what he had done was wrong. Martin felt that McGhee's behavior after the commission of the murder was not indifferent and suggested that McGhee was aware that his earlier actions were wrong. In addition, Martin testified that both he and his staff had had concerns about malingering, notably based upon instances where McGhee would appear closed and noncommunicative when dealing with staff, but perfectly communicative when interacting with other patients. Martin acknowledged that it was difficult to determine where malingering ends and mental illness begins.