§704-401  Evidence of physical or mental
disease, disorder, or defect admissible when relevant to state of mind. 
Evidence that the defendant was affected by a physical or mental disease,
disorder, or defect is admissible whenever it is relevant to prove that the
defendant did or did not have a state of mind that is required to establish an
element of the offense.  [L 1972, c 9, pt of §1; am L 2006, c 230, §5]



 



COMMENTARY ON §704-401



 



  This section accords to evidence of physical or mental
disease, disorder, or defect its full evidentiary significance.  It assures
"admissibility [of such evidence] co-extensive with its relevancy to prove
or disprove a material state of mind."[1]  While some jurisdictions have
refused to admit medical evidence of the defendant's mental state other than on
the issue of the complete foreclosure of defendant's responsibility, this
all-or- nothing approach is totally inconsistent with the concept which accords
certain states of mind legal significance.  Any evidence relevant to prove or
disprove the requisite state of mind ought to be admissible.



  In its most recent case in this area, Hawaii has adopted the
approach taken in this section.  In a case involving a charge of murder (which
under the previous definition requires malice, premeditation, and
deliberation), where the defendant had raised the issues of
"insanity" and lack of "malice", evidence of a defendant's
mental disease, disorder, or defect was held to be admissible on the issue of
the defendant's ability to harbor malice, even if the defendant was considered
"sane" and responsible.[2]  Furthermore, the defendant was entitled
to have the jury specifically instructed on this point.[3]



 



SUPPLEMENTAL COMMENTARY ON §704-401



 



  Act 230, Session Laws 2006, amended this section by making
technical, nonsubstantive amendments.



 



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§704-401 Commentary:



 



1.  M.P.C., Tentative Draft No. 4, comments at 193 (1955).



 



2.  State v. Moeller, 50 Haw. 110, 433 P.2d 136 (1967).



 



3.  Id.