People v. Hamilton

This case is before us on leave granted. It concerns an issue in a pending retrial: whether evidence of defendant’s psychological makeup is admissible to allow the jury to evaluate the voluntariness of his statements to the police. The trial court excluded the expert testimony on this issue. We reverse and remand.

Defendant has been charged with felony murder, assault with intent to commit armed robbery, and possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony resulting from the April 8, 1979, death of a convenience store proprietor. Defendant was sixteen years old at the time and the probate…