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Prosecutors rested their case. Now it was up to the Defense to try to convince the jury that mental illness caused her to attack her mother, Brenda Powell. The Defense's first witness was the defendant's grandmother, who was also the victim's mother. Jurors heard more about the medication Sydney Powell was taking. This was all during her grandmother's testimony where she shared details about family life over the years.
Prosecutors rested their case. Now it was up to the Defense to try to convince the jury that mental illness caused her to attack her mother, Brenda Powell. The Defense's first witness was the defendant's grandmother, who was also the victim's mother. Jurors heard more about the medication Sydney Powell was taking. This was all during her grandmother's testimony where she shared details about family life over the years.
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Mother Stabbed Murder Trial
S1, EP20 "Fatal Psychosis"The State quizzed the defense's mental health expert over the lead-up to and murder of Brenda Powell, the defendant's mother. Dr. James Reardon tried to explain why Sydney attempted to manipulate the crime scene before police arrived. This forensic psychologist did not waver on his opinion during cross-examination. Dr. Reardon argued that Sydney Powell was suffering from schizophrenia and went into a psychotic break weeks before Brenda, her mother, was killed.
Mother Stabbed Murder Trial
S1, EP21 "Second Mental Health Expert Testifies"A neuro-psychologist took the stand. Dr. Thomas Swale was the second mental health expert the defense brought in to testify about what led up to the death of Brenda Powell, Sydney's mother. Was the defendant malingering and exaggerating her symptoms during her psychological evaluations after she killed her mother? That would be the question jurors would answer later in deliberations.
Mother Stabbed Murder Trial
S1, EP22 "Neuropsychologist Gives His Diagnosis"Jurors heard more details about the state of mind of Sydney Powell. Forensic neuropsychologist Dr. Thomas Swale testified that the defendant experienced psychosis when she attacked her mom. He went on to tell jurors that Powell had a clash of reality which led to her psychosis. Dr. Swale evaluated the defendant more than three years after she killed her mother. He met with her for 23 hours over three separate days.
Mother Stabbed Murder Trial
S1, EP23 "From Honor Roll To Matricide"A former teacher of Sydney Powell testified in her murder trial. Years before she was accused of fatally stabbing her mother, Brenda, Sydney was a high school student who excelled and even got an academic scholarship to go to college. Next, jurors hear from a jail and prison psychologist. Dr. Robin Belcher-Timme claimed Powell could not appreciate the wrongfulness of her actions.
Mother Stabbed Murder Trial
S1, EP19 "Explaining The Psychotic Break"The long testimony of the defense's mental health expert was not over yet. Dr. James Reardon testified that the most compelling evidence of the Sydney Powell's mental state was the attack itself. It took three and half minutes. He said the spontaneity, brutality and lack of motive were all factors that suggested Powell was in the throes of a psychotic break.
Mother Stabbed Murder Trial
S1, EP18 "Challenging Dr. James Reardon"Prosecutors had more questions for the defense's mental health expert. It came after Dr. James Reardon told the jury that Sydney Powell was divorced from reality and in a catatonic state at the time she stabbed her mother, Brenda. Prosecutors grilled this forensic psychologist. The state was unconvinced that the murder happened because the defendant went into a psychotic episode.
Mother Stabbed Murder Trial
S1, EP17 "Catatonic State"The full mental health evaluation of Sydney Powell was delivered to jurors. Forensic psychologist Dr. James Reardon diagnosed the defendant with schizophrenia. He claimed this disconnected her from reality. Moreover, Powell allegedly suffered a psychotic and catatonic break from reality at the time of the killing.
Mother Stabbed Murder Trial
S1, EP16 "Out Of Touch With Reality"According to the defense's mental health expert Sydney Powell was out of touch with reality at the time she murdered her mother. This went against the state's case where prosecutors claimed there was no evidence of a mental health issue when she fatally attacked Brenda Powell. Jurors learned more about what she was allegedly going through, mentally, in the lead up to the fatal stabbing. The Defense wanted the jury to hear from the expert on the stand, a forensic psychologist.
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