Opinion ID: 2192374
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: dr bloom's testimony

Text: [¶ 12] Haque contends that the trial court erred in excluding Bloom's testimony that Haque was in a blind rage at the time of the killing. Because the excluded testimony embraces an ultimate issue, we disagree. [¶ 13] Pursuant to M.R. Evid. 701 and 702, the trial court may exclude opinions which state legal conclusions, beyond the specialized knowledge of the expert. State v. Flick, 425 A.2d 167, 171 (Me.1981). In addition, the trial court may exclude opinions which are arguably within the expert's specialized knowledge, but which are so conclusory, or so framed in terms of the legal conclusions to be drawn, that they will not `assist the trier of fact.' Id. (citing M.R. Evid. 702). Therefore, when a medical expert in a criminal case proposes to testify as to an ultimate issue in the casethe defendant's state of mindthe trial court acts well within its discretion when it precludes the testimony. See id. (holding that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in excluding testimony by medical professionals that defendant acted intentionally or knowingly ... or acted in extreme anger or fear.). [¶ 14] One of Haque's defenses was that he was guilty of manslaughter, rather than murder, because he killed Taylor while under the influence of extreme anger ... brought about by adequate provocation. 17-A M.R.S.A. § 203(1)(B) (1983 & Supp. 1998). Therefore, whether Haque was under the influence of extreme anger was one of the ultimate issues in this case. Testimony that Haque went into a blind rage at the time of the killing is not meaningfully distinguishable from an opinion that a defendant acted under the influence of extreme anger. We, therefore, conclude that the court acted well within its exercise of discretion when it excluded testimony by Bloom that Haque went into a blind rage. See State v. Michaud, 513 A.2d 842, 849 (Me.1986) (holding that the trial court did not err in excluding testimony that the defendant was operating under extreme anger.).