Opinion ID: 2675341
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Inadmissible Lay Opinion

Text: Defendant next contends the “I knew” statement was inadmissible because it implied Varela had told Speck defendant shot Walker and suggested she believed in the truth of Varela’s statement. Defendant contends any testimony to the effect that Speck believed in the truth of Varela’s statement was improper lay opinion. (People v. Melton, supra, 44 Cal.3d at p. 744.) The prosecutor’s question did not ask Speck to assess the truth of any previous statements Varela made to her. Instead, it sought to determine how Speck perceived and reacted to defendant’s comments about his lack of involvement in the shooting mentioned in the article. Her perception of his denial as a joking statement, rather than a credible and sincere denial, and her lack of a response were relevant to establishing that point.