Opinion ID: 1693138
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: barnett's mental retardation

Text: Arguing it was admissible under Rule 701 of the Mississippi Rules of Evidence, defense counsel sought through James Barnett to offer evidence that Barnett was retarded and slow, and suffered from epilepsy, and took the drug Dilantin. The circuit judge found this had no relevance since the record was undisputed that Barnett was mentally capable to stand trial and knew the difference between right and wrong. Barnett's only possible defense to the slaying was that he shot Harmon in necessary self defense of himself or his brother. His own intelligence had no bearing on whether or not he reasonably had ground to fear for his own or his brother's life or safety. Robinson v. State, 434 So.2d 206, 207 (Miss. 1983). Finding no error, we affirm. AFFIRMED. ROY NOBLE LEE, C.J., and PRATHER, ROBERTSON, SULLIVAN, ANDERSON, PITTMAN and BLASS, JJ., concur. DAN M. LEE, P.J., dissents.