Psychology and Bank Robbery

The Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction of a Maryland man sentenced to 30 years last October for robbing a Cape bank in August of 2006, according to Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle.

At trial, White's attorney argued not guilty by reason of mental illness. A psychologist testified that White was in a "dissociative fugue" (I had to look it up too) state when he committed the robbery at US Bank on William Street.

I remember this trial well, because at one point during a brief recess, White turned to me and asked if I had written an article the previous day about the trial. When I said yes, he asked, "You didn't make me look crazy, did you?"

Since his arguement boiled down to showing he had not been in a conscious state at the time he committed the robbery, I found it an odd question.

At the appellate level, White argued that the trial judge, Circuit Judge william L. Syler, erred in letting the prosecution ask him about other robberies allegedly committed during his cross country trip from Maryland.

The Court of Appeals ruled that this line was questioning went to the credibility of the defense psychologist and the validity of his conclusions.