Where an offender's mental health condition (here PTSD) is to be relied upon in sentencing, there must be adequate evidence — preferably psychiatric — establishing the diagnosis and a causal connection between the condition and the offending. A psychologist's report based on self-report alone, without expressing an opinion on causal connection to offending, may be insufficient. An applicant cannot reformulate on appeal a case about mental illness that was not put to the sentencing judge, unless there was most compelling material available on the plea that was not used or understood.
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