
Defendant’s Battered Person Syndrome
The Georgia Court of Appeals has granted a new trial for a woman convicted of aggravated assault in Cobb County after determining her defense attorney failed to introduce evidence of Battered Person Syndrome (BPS). The Court noted that expert testimony could have supported her justification defense and helped the jury understand her response to years of abuse. The ruling underscores how effective legal counsel and awareness of trauma-based defenses can significantly impact the outcome of criminal cases in Georgia.