United States v. Thigpen
United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
4 F.3d 1573 (11th Cir. 1993)
Relevant factsFree
William James Thigpen (defendant), a felon with schizophrenia, was charged with lying to obtain guns and illegally possessing them after a felony conviction; his sole defense was insanity. Over his objection, the prosecution's mental-health expert testified that a person with schizophrenia may still be able to understand the wrongfulness of his actions, but the expert never said whether Thigpen specifically had that capacity. The jury convicted Thigpen, and he appealed.
IssueFree
Whether expert testimony concerning the nature of a defendant's mental disease or defect, including its typical effect on a person's mental state, is admissible.