Opinion ID: 886072
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Inappropriate Opinion Testimony on Credibility

Text: ¶ 45 The State introduced two videotapes which recorded police interviews of Hagen. After the first tape was shown to the jury, the prosecutor asked Officer Larry Kirby to describe inconsistencies he believed to exist between the two interviews, in an attempt to show that Hagen had changed his story to fabricate a defense. Hagen contends that this testimony amounted to a comment on Hagen's credibility which was inadmissible pursuant to the Montana Rules of Evidence and applicable case law. See Rules 701 and 702, M.R.Evid.; State v. Webb (1990), 243 Mont. 368, 792 P.2d 1097. ¶ 46 However, pointing out inconsistencies in a person's statements is not the equivalent of expressing an opinion on credibility. Furthermore, it is difficult to infer prejudice since the jury had the independent opportunity to review the same statements. Therefore, we conclude that appellate counsel was not ineffective for failing to raise this issue on appeal.