Alan Ray Edwards, Appellant v. State of Arkansas, Appellee

Summary

The court affirmed Edwards's convictions and sentence, holding that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion by limiting the forensic psychiatrist's testimony concerning Edwards's capacity to form the purposeful mental state required for the charged offenses. The expert did not testify that Edwards lacked the capacity to form intent, and he affirmatively stated that Edwards's mental disorder did not prevent him from appreciating criminality or conforming his conduct to law; moreover, the evidence independently supported purposeful conduct. The court also held that Edwards's due-process argument was unpreserved. Justice Wynne, dissenting and joined by Justice Danielson, would have reversed and remanded because the expert's opinion about Edwards's impaired capacity to form intent was relevant, admissible, and not harmlessly excluded.