Sarah Boone Trial: Forensic Psychiatrist Confirms Battered Spouse Syndrome, Adds Complexity to Defense
In the ongoing Orlando trial of Sarah Boone, accused of second-degree murder in the 2020 death of her boyfriend Jorge Torres, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Tonia Werner confirmed Thursday that Boone suffers from Battered Spouse Syndrome (BSS). This condition is central to Boone’s defense, as her attorneys claim Boone’s actions were driven by trauma stemming from previous violence between her and Torres.
Werner, called as a rebuttal witness by the prosecution, noted that BSS alone does not justify Boone’s actions leading to Torres’ death. In a recent interview, Werner spoke with Boone for over two hours, during which Boone recounted details from the night Torres died. “They were having a good time and laughing,” Werner shared. “But she remembered what it felt like when he was choking her, and she became angry.” Boone described how she shook the suitcase Torres was in, and after it flipped, she reportedly saw him put two fingers out. “Her son’s baseball bat was sitting there, and she picked the bat up and hit his hand,” Werner said.
This narrative conflicts with the defense’s portrayal of Boone as a woman reacting under the influence of long-standing trauma. Boone’s lead attorney, James Owens, previously introduced forensic psychologist Dr. Julie Harper as an expert witness for the defense. Harper testified that Boone’s reaction that night was influenced by previous violent interactions with Torres. According to Harper, “Over a period of incidents, basically the victim begins to perceive cues that would signal impending danger … even subtle changes in tone or behavior that others might overlook.” Harper described this perception as something unique to individuals in abusive relationships, highlighting Boone’s heightened awareness of Torres’ behavior patterns as a trigger for her actions that night.
The issue of Battered Spouse Syndrome has been central to both sides, as it reflects Boone’s alleged perception of imminent harm. While Werner agreed with Harper’s diagnosis of BSS, she expressed skepticism over the applicability of BSS in justifying Boone’s behavior that led to Torres’ death. “Having Battered Spouse Syndrome doesn’t necessarily mean actions taken against your partner in a relationship are justified,” she said.
A pivotal moment during Werner’s testimony involved an objection by Owens, who argued the prosecution did not inform him of Werner’s recent opinion change. Owens requested the opportunity to re-depose Werner, stating, “I should have been notified there was going to be a change in opinions here today … and we had an agreement that I was going to be allowed to retake the deposition.” Judge Michael Kraynick ruled in Owens’ favor, allowing an in-court deposition to clarify Werner’s statements.
The defense highlighted Boone’s account of prior violence by Torres to strengthen their BSS argument. Deputy Jessica Ramirez Delgado testified Wednesday, recalling an arrest incident where Boone said, “Why? Because I f***ing fought back?” During the same session, jurors saw video footage taken from Boone’s cellphone showing Torres smashing her TV with the same baseball bat Boone later used to prevent Torres from escaping the suitcase.
Assistant State Attorney William Jay questioned Harper about the possibility of Boone’s narcissistic personality traits influencing her actions, noting that Boone demonstrated three of the nine traits associated with Narcissistic Personality Disorder, though not enough for a formal diagnosis. Harper disagreed that these traits influenced Boone’s actions, emphasizing Boone’s trauma-related reactions.
As the trial proceeds, the court heard how Boone’s experiences with Torres may have shaped her response on the night of his death. With closing arguments anticipated, the prosecution and defense will soon present their final cases to jurors, who must weigh the complex psychological factors surrounding Boone’s actions.
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