State v. Proia

The Supreme Judicial Court affirmed the judgment entered in the trial court convicting Defendant of several charges, including crimes of violence. After a jury-waived trial, Defendant was convicted of multiple charges arising from an incident where Defendant engaged in conduct while affected by a distorted view of reality. On appeal, Defendant argued that the trial court erred in interpreting Me. Rev. Stat. 17-A, 38 as applied to the evidence of Defendant’s mental condition and that the evidence of his mental abnormality foreclosed any determination that he acted with the required culpable state of mind. The Supreme Judicial Court held (1) the court’s application of section 38 was not in error, and (2) the evidence presented at trial supported the court’s factual findings beyond a reasonable doubt. View "State v. Proia" on Justia Law