State v. Froehlich

A jury convicted Harvey Froehlich of second degree burglary. Two issues are raised on appeal: (1) whether a prosecution witness was competent to testify; and (2) whether, after he was declared competent to testify, the trial court erred by permitting a psychiatrist to testify about his mental condition.

John Bliss had previously been convicted of participating in the burglary with which appellant (petitioner in this court) had been charged. At trial Bliss, who was called as a State's witness, appeared extremely nervous after taking the stand. Following a series of leading questions, to which…