Craig Wood’s defense cites mental health issues

Craig Wood doesn’t think he should die at the hands of Missouri’s criminal justice system for the abduction, rape and murder of a 10-year-old Springfield girl.

Wood was sentenced to death in 2018 for the killing of Hailey Owens before filing a post-conviction relief motion, challenging the ruling in hopes of securing a lifetime of incarceration.

The Missouri State graduate and former middle-school football coach stated in court filings that he wasn’t given a fair trial or adequate legal representation. He also claims that Greene County Judge Thomas Mountjoy — the man who handed Wood a death sentence after a jury deadlocked in the penalty phase — had a conflict of interest.

On Tuesday, the second of a threeday evidentiary hearing at the Greene County Courthouse, Wood and his latest team faced the now-retired Mountjoy again as they called four expert witnesses to the stand.

Public defender Valerie Leftwich had several character witnesses on Monday attempt to paint Wood as a bright, well-liked man whose mental health and substance abuse issues accelerated leading up to the death of Owens. On Tuesday, it was primarily professionals in the mental health field who spoke to Wood’s mental state.

Wood claimed during the trial and punishment phase of his case that his former attorneys did not have enough people speak on his behalf.

Experts point to several mental health issues

Nearly each of the forensic psychologists and counselors who spoke in court Tuesday mentioned Wood being dumped in high school by the only girlfriend he ever had. It appeared to have a ripple effect that lasted decades.