United States v. Alexander
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
471 F.2d 923 (1972)
After Marine lieutenants racially insulted him with slurs, Murdock and a companion pulled revolvers, resulting in two deaths; at his bifurcated insanity trial, a psychiatrist testified that Murdock's background of racial oppression and psychopathic traits gave him an irresistible urge to lash out when racially denigrated, and the court instructed the jury it could consider this evidence only regarding whether Murdock suffered a mental condition affecting his criminal responsibility.
Whether the jury may consider psychiatric evidence in a criminal case for a purpose other than to determine whether the defendant suffered from a mental condition that lowered or absolved his criminal responsibility.