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Published
by the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. CLICK FOR NEWSPAPER DELIVERY
Thursday, April 4, 2002
Prosecutor says Penry's a psychopath
Associated Press
Defense contends that he's retarded
CONROE - Convicted killer Johnny Paul Penry is a psychopath and manipulator who shouldn't be kept from a third sentencing trial even though intelligence tests might find him mildly mentally retarded, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Testimony began in a competency trial for the inmate who has been on death row for more than two decades.
"Look at the whole picture, not just the IQ tests," district attorney Joe Price, who prosecuted Penry twice, told jurors in opening remarks.
"His IQ tests are jumping all over the place.
"It doesn't mean he has to be a rocket scientist.
"If you took away his criminal functions, he could survive in society. His criminal psychopathic behavior has got in the way and those behaviors are not any element of mental retardation."
Penry's lawyer, John Wright, said in his opening statement his client's ability to aid in his defense was like a 6 or 7 year old trying to communicate with an attorney.
"People are understandably skeptical when someone suggests some kind of mental impairment," Wright said. "The state will say he's faking it. Obviously, he's not."
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