In
State v. Taylor, the Kansas Court of Appeals recently ruled that the district court erred
in letting an officer testify as to whether the defendant was justified
in using a knife for self defense. The Court ruled that non-expert witnesses
may only give opinions that are based on their perceptions and that are
helpful to understanding their testimony. The Court examined the fact
that the officer was not present when the knife was used and concluded
that the officer was testifying to things he had not perceived and that
were not helpful in understanding his direct testimony.
