People v. Aphaylath
Court of Appeals of New York
502 N.E.2d 998 (1986)
Relevant factsFree
A Laotian refugee charged with murdering his wife of one month sought to support an extreme emotional disturbance defense with expert testimony about refugee assimilation stress and Laotian cultural norms regarding a wife's public affection for another man, but the trial court excluded both experts because neither could testify specifically about the defendant himself.
IssueFree
Whether an expert witness providing cultural testimony on behalf of a criminal defendant must personally know the defendant or have knowledge of the defendant's circumstances or characteristics.