Opinion ID: 1494221
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Trial Judge's Limiting Instructions

Text: We also note that the trial judge twice issued limiting instructions  once during Lyons' testimony and once in the final jury charge  regarding the jury's use of the lie detector evidence in their deliberations. [116] These instructions limited the jury's consideration of the contested testimony and thus reduced the prejudicial effect of the testimony. The fact that these limiting instructions tended to minimize the impact of the evidence is a factor to consider in this harmless error analysis. Accordingly, we conclude that, although the totality of Gerry's testimony was critical to the State's case, the portion of Gerry's testimony that was tainted by Lyons' vouching testimony was not an indispensable or critical part of the State's case [117] and that the State presented ample untainted evidence of planning to support Capano's conviction. On harmless error analysis, therefore, we hold that the erroneous admission of Lyons' testimony concerning Gerry's polygraph test and his improper vouching did not substantially prejudice the defense and that admission of this testimony does not warrant a reversal of Capano's conviction and sentence. [118]