Opinion ID: 1155936
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: helpful to a clear understanding

Text: The opinion of the lay witness must also be helpful to a clear understanding of his testimony. Rule 701, W.R.E., supra. Where a witness is asked whether the conduct in issue was `unlawful' or `wilful' or whether the defendants `conspired,' terms that demand an understanding of the nature and scope of the criminal law, the trial court may properly conclude that any response would not be helpful to the trier of fact. The witness, unfamiliar with the contours of the criminal law, may feel that the legal standard is either higher or lower than it really is. If either event is true the jury may accord too much weight to such a legal conclusion. United States v. Baskes, 649 F.2d 471, 478 (7th Cir.1980), cert. denied 450 U.S. 1000, 101 S.Ct. 1706, 68 L.Ed.2d 201 (1981). We have said that Billy's statement that he suspected his father killed his mother was not rationally based on any perception by him. We are unable to ascertain how his opinion that he suspected Dr. Schmunk had killed his mother would be helpful to a clear understanding of his testimony. There was before this jury all of the facts, testimony of experts, investigators, officers, physical evidence, the autopsy, and toxicology. The jury was in the best position to reach a conclusion on the matter of guilt or innocence  the ultimate issue in this case. Should we condone this type of opinion evidence, we could expect in the future that the State might call five witnesses to say they suspect the defendant is guilty. The defendant then would surely be permitted to call five witnesses to testify that they suspect he is innocent. It is said that `assertions which amount to little more than choosing up sides,' such as statements that the defendant is `liable' or `at fault' or `guilty,' 3 Louisell and Mueller § 376, do not satisfy the helpfulness requirement. Such a procedure would be absurd. It would detract from important evidence and would not be helpful to the jury in deciding the ultimate issue in the case. This type of opinion or conclusion should not have been admitted. The State next contends that Billy's opinion was admissible as revealing his state of mind at the time he left Douglas, Wyoming. Suffice it to say here that Billy's state of mind at the time he left Douglas, Wyoming was not relevant to any issue in this case. The reason he left Douglas was not proof of any material fact relating to the charge of first degree murder against Dr. Schmunk. All relevant evidence is admissible, except as otherwise provided by statute, by these rules, or by other rules prescribed by the Supreme Court. Evidence which is not relevant is not admissible. Rule 402, W.R.E. The statement was not admissible under the state-of-mind exception in Rule 803(3), W.R.E., as suggested because that rule concerns the admissibility of hearsay evidence, and this was not hearsay. It was not relevant and, therefore, not admissible. It was not admissible as an opinion of a lay witness. The admission of this opinion, therefore, was error.