State v. LaBrutto

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

GARIBALDI, J.

Police officers are usually the first witnesses to arrive at the scene of an automobile accident. Before physical evidence at the scene is removed, distorted, or tampered with, they have the unique opportunity to observe it. The primary issue in this appeal is whether an investigating state trooper, not qualified as an expert, may testify about the vehicles’ point of impact based on his own observations. We hold that the state trooper’s testimony is admissible under Evid.R. 56(1).

Secondary issues in this appeal raised in defendant’s…