Opinion ID: 1358967
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Admission of Investigator's Testimony.

Text: Boeglin's statement was admitted through an investigator for the Eddy County District Attorney's office who was present at the time Boeglin made the statement. The prosecution asked the investigator if he had formed an opinion as to Boeglin's state of mind at the time Boeglin made the statement. Defense counsel objected on the ground that the witness was not properly qualified as an expert. The objection was overruled. The investigator then testified that Boeglin had appeared hyper. On appeal, defendant asserts that the investigator was unqualified under NMSA 1978, Evid.Rule 702 (Repl.Pamp. 1983), to give an expert opinion regarding Boeglin's state of mind. However, defendant ignores the effect of NMSA 1978, Evid.Rule 701 (Repl.Pamp. 1983). That Rule allows admission of lay testimony in the form of opinions that are rationally based upon the witness's perceptions. Thus, the investigator's testimony was properly admitted.