McCalop v. Georgia
Annotate this CaseAppellant Sasha McCalop was convicted of malice murder in connection with the stabbing death of Michael Martin, her boyfriend of three years. On appeal, McCalop contended: (1) the trial court erred in allowing the State’s expert to comment on McCalop’s state of mind; (2) the trial court erred in allowing the State’s expert to testify because he had never testified in Georgia before and was not familiar with Georgia law on battered person syndrome (“BPS”); (3) the trial court erred in allowing the State’s expert to testify that BPS had no scientific basis and that trial courts were wrong in providing jury instructions on BPS; (4) the State committed prosecutorial misconduct by arguing to the jury that BPS was not a recognized diagnosis or defense; and (5) the trial court erred in ruling that a defense witness “opened the door” to presenting evidence of McCalop’s bad character. Finding no error, the Georgia Supreme Court affirmed.
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