Opinion ID: 2580885
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Admission of Lee's Testimony

Text: Fukagawa argues that Lee was not qualified to testify that the residue contained in the pipe recovered from Fukagawa may have been an amount sufficient to be used because Lee's qualifications to testify as to the use, ingestion, or pharmacological effects of methamphetamine were not established. We disagree. Hawai`i Rules of Evidence (HRE) Rule 702-(1993) states: If scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise. In determining the issue of assistance to the trier of fact, the court may consider the trustworthiness and validity of the scientific technique or mode of analysis employed by the proffered expert. With respect to an expert's qualifications, this court has noted, It is not necessary that the expert witness have the highest possible qualifications to testify about a particular matter, . . . but the expert witness must have such skill, knowledge, or experience in the field in question as to make it appear that his opinion or inference-drawing would probably aid the trier of fact in arriving at the truth. . . . Once the basic requisite qualifications are established, the extent of an expert's knowledge of the subject matter goes to the weight rather than the admissibility of the testimony. State v. Toyomura, 80 Hawai`i 8, 26 n. 19, 904 P.2d 893, 911 n. 19 (1995) (quoting Larsen v. State Sav. & Loan Ass'n, 64 Haw. 302, 304, 640 P.2d 286-288 (1982)). In the present case, Lee testified that he received field training in the testing and identification of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia. Additionally, Lee testified that, through his training and experience, he knew how a pipe, like the one recovered from Fukagawa, is used and explained how crystal methamphetamine is smoked in such a pipe. Thus, the prosecution had laid a sufficient foundation establishing Lee's knowledge and experience in how crystal methamphetamine is smoked in a pipe like that recovered from Fukagawa. Moreover, Lee was never asked any questions regarding the pharmacological effect of the methamphetamine recovered. Therefore, the circuit court, in allowing Lee's testimony, did not exceed the bounds of reason or disregard rules or principles of law or practice to the substantial detriment of a party. Accordingly, we hold that the circuit court did not err in allowing Lee to testify that the residue contained in the pipe recovered from Fukagawa may have been an amount sufficient to be used.