State v. Stafford

I respectfully dissent. I find that the testimony of Dr. Joseph Ponzi is competent within the meaning of Rule 803(4) of the North Carolina Rules of Evidence. The only assignment of error addressed by the Court of Appeals was whether Dr. Ponzi’s testimony concerning “rape trauma syndrome” was admissible. Dr. Ponzi’s testimony concerning this issue was based in part upon the testimony of Tammy Ingram and her mother concerning Tammy’s symptoms. The majority holds the admission of this testimony to be prejudicial error. Tammy and her mother went to Dr. Ponzi for examination on 12 January 1984,…