People v. Williams

OPINION OF THE COURT

Memorandum.

The order of the Appellate Division should be affirmed.

Defendant was convicted of manslaughter in the first degree after a jury trial. Defendant sought to introduce expert psychiatric evidence with regard to his justification defense “[i]n order to have the jury properly understand [his] state of mind as it impacts on his intent.” To give defendant’s request the “in-depth thought that it deserves,” the trial court asked for an offer of proof as to the content of the proposed expert psychiatric evidence. Defendant indicated that the expert would testify that “at…