Not So Hip Hop News

The defense has rested in the Jamal Woods capital murder trial.
Lawyers for the prosecution and defense will make their closing arguments Thursday morning, then Circuit Judge Laura Hamilton will charge the jury. It's possible the jury could begin deliberations sometime Thursday afternoon.

Woods, 24, is accused of murder in the fatal shootings of Thurston Turner and Tanqueray "Tank" Beavers, both of Athens, at Friday's on University Drive on Dec.17, 2006. He is charged also with two counts of attempted murder for allegedly wounding Autora Rogers of Athens and William Reliford of Hazel Green during the same shooting spree.

The defense rested after testimony by Birmingham neuropsychologist Joseph Ackerson that Woods is affected by a mental condition antisocial personality disorder.

Those affected by the disorder have a tendency to react with extreme aggression when they feel that their honor or safety has been violated, said Ackerson, director of neuropsychology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

Early childhood influences are instrumental in molding the person into who a person eventually becomes, Ackerson said. In this case, Woods early exposure to gang culture by his uncle and aunt, were instrumental in forming who he is now, he said.

If a person with the condition is placed a threatening situation, the outcome is predictable, Ackerson said.

Source: http://www.al.com/