Opinion ID: 1275251
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Denial of Psychiatric Examination.

Text: Out of the jury's presence, defense counsel, having unsuccessfully sought a mistrial on the ground that Annette May was incompetent as a witness, moved for an order requiring May to submit to a psychiatric or psychological examination to determine her competency. The trial court denied the motion, expressing its belief a psychiatrist or psychologist could not add anything to what had been accomplished in May's cross-examination. Defendant concedes the trial court may very well have been justified in denying the motion, but argues we cannot presume from the silent record that the trial court took appropriate factors into account in doing so. (12) We find no error in either the trial court's ruling on the motion or the manner in which it was made. The use of psychiatric testimony to impeach a witness is generally disfavored. ( In re Darrell T. (1979) 90 Cal. App.3d 325, 335 [153 Cal. Rptr. 261]; see § 1112 [prohibiting compulsory psychiatric or psychological examination to assess credibility of victim or witness in sexual offense prosecution].) The fact a witness makes inconsistent and exaggerated statements does not compel a different conclusion. ( People v. Knox (1979) 95 Cal. App.3d 420, 431 [157 Cal. Rptr. 238].) Defendant fails to enumerate any appropriate factors the trial court failed to consider, and we see none on this record.