Bonner v. State (Ala. Crim. App. 1998)

In Bonner v. State, 740 So. 2d 439 (Ala. Crim. App. 1998), the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals considered whether expert testimony on battered woman syndrome was admissible to support a self-defense claim. The defendant was convicted of manslaughter for fatally stabbing her husband and contended on appeal that the trial court erred by excluding expert testimony explaining the psychological effects of prolonged domestic abuse. She argued that such evidence was critical to help the jury evaluate the reasonableness of her perception of imminent danger, even if the threat was not immediate. The appellate court agreed, holding that testimony on battered woman syndrome is relevant to determining the reasonableness of a defendant’s belief that deadly force is necessary to prevent harm. The conviction was reversed and the case remanded, recognizing the admissibility of expert evidence on the psychological impact of abuse in assessing claims of self-defense.