People v. Ventura

Memorandum. In a nonjury trial after both defendant and the People had rested, the trial court reserved decision on defendant’s motion to reopen for the introduction of the testimony of an additional expert witness in support of the defense of insanity. Following several adjournments the trial court denied defendant’s motion on the ground that the new witness was not qualified to give relevant expert testimony.

The determinations as to whether to reopen the case for further testimony and as to the qualifications of the witness to testify as an expert, closely related in the circumstances of…