State v. Jones

In State v. Jones, 342 N.C. 523, 467 S.E.2d 12 (1996), a police officer's opinion of the defendant's mental capacities at the time of the confession was properly admitted because his opinion was rationally based on his perception of defendant at the time of the confession. Furthermore, it was necessary that he give his opinion as to defendant's mental state at the time of the confession to help determine a crucial fact in issue, that is, that defendant voluntarily gave the statement to police. Id. at 538, 467 S.E.2d at 21.