State v. Norris
Annotate this CaseAfter a jury-waived trial, Defendant was convicted of murder for causing the death of her two-year-old daughter by giving her a large dose of Benadryl and then physically suffocating her. Defendant appealed, arguing that the trial court erred by finding that she did not prove her affirmative defense that she was not criminally responsible by reason of a mental disease or defect and by finding that her actions in killing her daughter were intentional or knowing. The Supreme Judicial Court affirmed, holding (1) the record supports the court’s finding that Defendant did not prove her affirmative defense of not criminally responsible by reason of a mental disease or defect; and (2) the record supports the trial court’s finding that Defendant intentionally or knowingly caused her daughter’s death.
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