State v. Curie

BRITT, Judge.

The only assignment of error brought forward and argued by defendant relates to the failure of the court to allow defendant to testify with respect to his méntal and psychiatric problems. After hearing the proffered testimony on voir dire in the absence of the jury, the court ruled it inadmissible.

Pertinent portions of the excluded testimony are summarized as follows: Following his arrest, defendant was sent to Dorothea Dix Hospital for observation but he would not cooperate with the doctors there because they had long hair, were “weirdos,” and he had no confidence in them.…