Opinion ID: 1095005
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: did the trial court err in allowing the state's expert, during rebuttal, to state an opinion on a subject matter when the defense expert's opinion on the same subject matter had earlier been precluded?

Text: Dr. Donald Guild, a psychiatrist who had interviewed the child testified for the defense as to, among other things, the child's propensity for truthfulness. Dr. Guild was not, however, for reasons of relevancy, allowed to testify as to the propensity for truthfulness by the child's brother, whom Dr. Guild had interviewed and who also had allegedly been sexually abused by Williams. [1] Subsequently, Dr. Maude Wright, who had likewise interviewed both children, was allowed to testify in rebuttal for the State as to her opinion of the brother's propensity for truthfulness. This, obviously, was error. The purpose of rebuttal testimony is to explain, repel, counteract or disprove evidence by the adverse party. See, United States v. Delk, 586 F.2d 513 (5th Cir.1978); Roney v. State, 167 Miss. 827, 150 So. 774 (1933); see generally, 23 C.J.S. Criminal Law, § 1050 (1961). In light of the preclusion of Dr. Guild's opinion, it was reversible error to allow the opinion of Dr. Wright in rebuttal on the same subject matter. In addition, while we do not address the issue in this case, opinion testimony as to a witness's truthfulness is of dubious competency.