Abstract
This Note focuses on a recent Minnesota Supreme Court decision admitting expert testimony on battered woman syndrome, but prohibiting experts from testifying that a particular defendant is or was suffering from the syndrome when she killed her batterer. These questions concern evidential issues of relevance, reliability and impermissible intrusion on the function of the jury. Part II briefly describes the theory of battered woman syndrome and its use in self-defense of homicide. Part III reviews the admissibility of expert testimony on battered woman syndrome as evidence in homicide cases and analyzes the criteria for admission. Part IV analyzes State v. Hennum and limitations on admitted testimony based upon the ultimate issue rule. The conclusion is that, although courts may prohibit expert testimony about the mental state of the defendant, they may not properly exclude expert testimony that identifies a defendant as a sufferer of battered woman syndrome.
How to Cite
32 Ariz. L. Rev. 665 (1990)
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