Mirkarimi prosecutor wants expert in battered women’s syndrome to testify

Article here. Excerpt:

'In many criminal prosecutions, the refusal of a victim to testify against a suspect might derail the case. Not so with domestic violence cases, such as that involving Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi.

Accused of misdemeanor domestic violence battery against his wife Eliana Lopez, Mirkarimi is scheduled to stand trial Feb. 24. Both husband and wife have publicly denied any abuse.

A neighbor reported the New Year’s Eve incident to police, saying a tearful Lopez complained of violence and showed her a bruised arm. Lopez subsequently said the incident was “completely taken out of context” and that the criminal investigation was motivated by her husband’s political enemies.
Lopez could refuse to testify at Mirkarimi’s trial.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Aguilar Tarchi argued last week that testimony from a domestic violence specialist about battering and its effects was needed to help explain a behavior pattern that might not make sense to the average person.
...
“Recanting is very, very common and most of the time, when an expert is called by the prosecution, that’s the reason why,” Schrock said.'