Sexual Murder - Justicia Forense

The psychologist began her interview by asking B to describe her relationshipswith prior boyfriends, including her relationship with A. B told her ofnumerous relationships, all of which she claimed involved abuse. She wentinto great detail explaining the abusive relationship she had with A. She saidthat A hit her when he was angry, knocked her down, slapped her, and struckher in the face with his fist. She described the violence as frequent and occurringin “cycles”; following the violence, A would make up to B by buying herflowers and expensive gifts. Upon questioning, B also reported being psychologicallyabused by A and said that he had even raped her on several occasions.She explained to the psychologist that she was “terrified” of A and believedthat if she did not participate in the murders, A would have killed her as well:“I was petrified; I was scared I’d be next.” B then, upon questioning, “describedbecoming isolated in the relationship, which reinforced her sense of helplessnessand A’s power and control over her. According to B, A would not allowher to see her friends or family members.” B’s account of events to the defenseexpert was at variance with witness statements, as well as her own statementsgiven to the police.The defense psychologist administered the TAT, wherein B gave repetitivestories of “women being beaten by the men, or even killed, and the womentaking the men back with a promise that it will not happen again.” Accordingto the psychologist, “B does not report the traditional signs of trauma associatedwith battered woman syndrome, although, based on B’s history, one would notexpect to see signs of psychological trauma. In persons who have a history ofabusing substances, the trauma is obscured by the drug use. In fact, it is likelythat the alcohol and drug use were B’s way of coping with the psychological painand trauma of her abuse.”The report continued:The relationship B described with A is consistent with what occurs inbattered woman syndrome. B was dependent on A both psychologicallyand economically. A had been violent with her and had manipulated herinto compliance and submission. B was passive and compliant in interpersonalrelationships and she had no self-worth. Coupled with both herpersonality makeup and the abuse she suffered, plus B’s history of drugabuse, she had no options other than to remain passive and compliantand to continue to cope with whatever troubled her by using drugs andnumbing the pain. She didn’t consider disobeying A. Further, in hermind she knew A was upset with both C and D, but she had no idea hewould murder them. B has now learned by her attendance at a jailsponsoreddomestic violence support group that hitting is always wrongand she is beginning to understand what happened to her and the mistakesshe made. When she stabbed C, she was following A’s orders. Shewas terrified. She heard C and D plead for their lives and she was alsoafraid for her life at that time.Her report concluded: