State v. Beam

JOHNSON, Judge.

The State’s evidence tended to show the following: Emmett Kenneth Hawkins was born 27 August 1956. On 7 March 1975, he was admitted as a patient to the Western Carolina Center for the mentally retarded in Morganton, North Carolina. Upon his admission Emmett underwent a physical examination and a series of tests conducted by Dr. Agnes Milan. As a result of the physical examination and various tests conducted, Dr. Milan diagnosed Emmett as having a heart murmur and an enlarged heart. Dr. Milan advised Emmett’s mother, Jane Katherine Hawkins, of Emmett’s heart diseases.

On 28…