Tarver v. The State., 186 Ga. App. 905, 368 S.E.2d 828 (1988)
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Summary
Judgment affirmed. Birdsong, C. J., and Banke, P. J., concur.
Summary
Judgment affirmed. Birdsong, C. J., and Banke, P. J., concur.
Text
Defendant appeals his convictions of armed robbery, OCGA
1. Defendant contends the verdict was contrary to law because the evidence established that he lacked the necessary mens rea to be guilty of the offenses charged since at the time of their commission he was legally insane. OCGA
Defendant urges that the evidence shows he was schizophrenic with self-destructive tendencies, which mental illness precluded the jury's finding anything other than he was insane or mentally incompetent at the time of the acts charged. His expert witness, a clinical forensic psychologist, stated that defendant suffered from schizophrenia and was unable to distinguish right from wrong. The State's expert witness, also a forensic psychologist, testified that defendant did know the difference between right and wrong despite his history of mental illness.
The expert testimony was conflicting on the issue of defendant's mental capacity, but several non-expert witnesses who were at the scene stated defendant acted in a manner indicating he could indeed distinguish between right and wrong. The primary function of the jury was to determine the weight of the evidence and credibility of the witnesses. A finding of sanity may be overturned only if the evidence of insanity is clear and overwhelming. Brown, supra. The proof in this case would not require a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity under the applicable evidentiary test. Salter v. State,
2. Defendant contends a new trial should be granted because the State's expert witness gratuitously placed his character into evidence. During direct examination the witness was asked: "What about his [defendant's] past history, Doctor Lower? Did you consider that when you concluded what you did?" The witness responded: "Yes, we did. As I have mentioned, he's been with us at Central State Hospital on a number of occasions, most recently in 1980 and 1983. And he came to us from the prison system on both occasions. He was already in prison for something or other, and I did not --" At this point objection was interposed and motion for mistrial made. After argument outside the presence of the jury, the trial court overruled the motion. The jury returned and were instructed to disregard the testimony "as to defendant coming from prison twice." No further objection was made nor was the motion for mistrial renewed.
We do not reach the merits of the unsolicited interjection by the witness as to defendant's history of criminal behavior. The issue was not preserved for appellate review because following the curative instruction by the trial court, defendant failed to renew the motion for mistrial. Fears v. State,
H. Haywood Turner III, for appellant.
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This document cites
- Supreme Court of Georgia - SALTER v. THE STATE., 257 Ga. 88, 356 S.E.2.d 196
- Supreme Court of Georgia - JACKSON v. THE STATE., 248 Ga. 480, 284 S.E.2.d 267 (1981)
- Georgia Court Of Appeals - Fambro v. The State., 165 Ga. App. 445, 299 S.E.2d 114 (1983)
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