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Killer Of Tiro Here Fails In Appeal For New TrialStephen Robertson, 24, of Middletown, who is serving life sentences for first degreimurder in the killing of two sailors here in 1967, has filed for a review by the state Supreme Court of a recent dicision concerning a defense psychologist’s testimony at his trial.Robertson lost the first phase of his attempt to get a new trial on tlie ground that a defense phycholigist during the trial was improperly barred from giving an' opinion as to Robertson's legal sanity at the time of the killings.In a recent 24-pBge decision, Superior Court Judge Christopher Del Sesto, said the psychologist, Dr. Roger Alan Richardson, at the Lime of the trial lacked the special qualifications suggested by the Supreme Court.lie said Dr. Richardson was an expert in psychological testing and was permitted to testify as an expert in that field, hut that be was not a diplomate Df the American Board of Examiners and had less than a year's hospitla or clinical psychology after getting his Ph.D degree in psychology.The Supreme Court Ruling gave the defendant' an op-portunity to review the decision concerning Dr. Richardson’squalifications.Judge Del Sesto had ruled inthe trial here in June, 1964, that Dr. Richardson, a professor of psychology' al University of Rhode Island and a member of Ihe staff of the R.I. Medical Center, could not express an opinion about the defendant's sanity*The Supreme Court, acting on Robertson's appeal, held lhat it was erroneous to hold that no psycholgist was qualified to express an opinion about a ddefendant’s sanity at the time oof the crime. It said one should be able to discuss an opinion, if he was a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and a diplomate of. the American Board of Examiners in Professional Psychology.It further stated that he musthave sufficient post-doctoral experience in a hospital or clinical setting with psychiatrists and psychologists. Ihe court returned the case to Judge Del Sesto for further evidence on Dr. Richardson’s qualifications.Robertson was found guilty of murdering Russell A. Schilling of Newport, Wash., and James D. Cook Of Port Arthur, Tex. Testimony at his trial said that shortly after midnight Oct. 6, 1967, Robertson left the Quality Lunch on Broadway where the two sailors were eating. A short time later be entered through a rear door and shot both Navy men dead with a high-powered rifle. The reason for theshooting was never made clear.*#
Newspaper Details
Newport Mercury and Weekly News
Newport, Rhode Island, US
Fri, Oct 08, 1971
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 22 Apr 2021
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