Can a witness testify as to their opinions and legal conclusions?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Ruano, B279177 (Cal. App. 2017):

Ruano contends that the trial court erred by allowing witnesses to invade the province of the jury by testifying as to their opinions and legal conclusions. A witness not testifying as an expert may offer opinion testimony so long as it is "(a) [r]ationally based on the perception of the witness; and (b) [h]elpful to a clear understanding of his testimony." (Evid. Code, 800.) Opinions as to whether a defendant is guilty or innocent of the charges "are inadmissible because they are of no assistance to the trier of fact." (People v. Torres (1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 37, 47.)

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