People v. Humphrey
Supreme Court of California
921 P.2d 1 (1996)
After enduring escalating abuse from Albert Hampton — including his firing a gun at her the day before, and further beatings the day of the shooting — Humphrey (defendant) shot and killed him, later telling police she did not want him to "beat on her" anymore; at trial, expert Dr. Lee Bowker testified Humphrey suffered from battered woman's syndrome reflecting a documented pattern of escalating abuse. The trial court instructed the jury it could consider the battered-woman's-syndrome evidence in assessing whether Humphrey actually (subjectively) believed killing was necessary, but not in assessing whether that belief was reasonable; Humphrey was convicted of voluntary manslaughter with firearm use, an intermediate appellate court affirmed, and the California Supreme Court granted review.
Whether expert testimony on battered woman's syndrome may be considered by the jury only in assessing a defendant's subjective belief in the need for self-defense, or also in assessing whether that belief was objectively reasonable.