Psychiatrist - Woman provoked to kill

Hutchinson said it was his opinion that Bedeau, 41, should not be held “entirely responsible” for her husband Gerald’s murder four years ago. He said in her case, it was “chronic provocation” the abuse she and her daughter suffered.

However, the doctor admitted that he was unable to say if Bedeau suffered with any “mental abnormalities” when she killed her husband and buried him at the back of their house in Point Fortin.

Hutchinson, head of the psychiatric unit at the UWI Faculty of Medical Sciences, testified before Justice Anthony Carmona and a nine-member jury about his findings following a psychiatric examination of Bedeau.

Bedeau is on trial in the San Fernando First Criminal Court for the November 2002 murder of Gerald, 40. Bedeau is alleged to have stabbed her husband, burnt his body then buried it at the back of their house at Warden Road, Point Ligoure.

Hutchinson testified that he interviewed Bedeau for three hours on March 19 at the Women’s Prison, Arouca.

He said Bedeau experienced a traumatic marriage both physically and emotionally.

Hutchinson told the jury that Bedeau’s mother, sister and daughter, whom he also interviewed, coroborated Bedeau’s claims that she was repeatedly beaten by her husband who was usually under the influence of alcohol.

However, under cross-examination by state counsel Angela Teelucksingh, Huchinson confirmed to the court that his findings were based on an interview he had with Bedeau and her relatives. The psychiatrist admitted that if someone lied to him or exaggerated during such an interview, his findings would be flawed.

Hutchinson testified that Bedeau showed signs of emotional numbness and depression.

He explained that these were symptoms of Battered Women Syndrome but he said it was difficult to determine whether those symptoms were there before she was incarcerated.

In telling Carmona and the jury that Bedeau suffered from diminished responsibilty, Hutchinson said that women who experience this syndrome, could respond by murdering or killing the abuser either in self defence, provocation or revenge.