People v. Sanchez

OPINION OF THE COURT

Irving Lang, J.

Must a witness be qualified as an expert in order to give his opinion regarding a person’s accent?

FACTS

Defendant Wilberto Sanchez, indicted for murder in the second degree, was accused of killing Julio Villa on March 17, 1984. At trial, the eyewitness, Mr. Israel Torres, testified that on March 17, 1984, at approximately 5:00 a.m., he was walking his girlfriend home in the vicinity of 167th Street and Sherman Avenue. He stated that he observed the defendant, a Puerto Rican male, arguing with Julio Villa in Spanish, just before the defendant shot and killed…