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IQ at Issue in Long-Delayed Florida Trial

By Steve Hall

"IQ tests key in Palm Beach County trial that is longest delayed death penalty case in state," is the title of a report by Susan Spencer-Wendel in the Palm Beach Post.His is one of the longest-running death penalty cases in Florida, experts recall. D'Andre Bannister has sat in jail more than seven years awaiting trial, after being charged with first-degree murder in the death of his stepson, 4-year-old Tarquez Woodson, whom police say Bannister beat to death in August 2002. Today, the attorneys and judge gathered again, this time to determine if Bannister is mentally retarded and thus ineligible to face the ultimate penalty. One factor under Florida law is having a general IQ score 70 or below. Despite Bannister scoring an IQ of 72 some years ago, a newly available intelligence test given to him in 2008 gave his defense attorneys the magic IQ score of 69...continue to full post

Full post as published by StandDown Texas Project on February 09, 2010 (boomark / email).