166 Conn. App. 142 - State v. Leniart’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 district · 27 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 29 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “construe the evidence in the light most favorable to sustaining the verdict.... [We then] determine whether upon the facts so construed and the inferences reasonably drawn therefrom the [jury] reasonably could have concluded that the cumulative force of the evidence established guilt beyond a reasonable doubt .... " (Emphasis added; internal quotation marks omitted.) State v. Allan , 311 Conn. 1 , 25, 83 A.3d 326 (2014). Here, it certainly would have been reasonable for the jury to have found that the "they”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 169 Conn. App. 794 - State v. Walker · 175 Conn. App. 22 - State v. Franklin

2. “Under ... § 53a-54a (a), the state must prove that the defendant acted with the specific intent to cause the death of the victim. ... Intent is a mental process which ordinarily can be proven only by circumstantial evidence. An intent to cause death may be inferred from circumstantial evidence such as the type of weapon used, the manner in which it was used, the type of wound inflicted and the events leading to and immediately following the death. ... The use of inferences based on circumstantial evidence is necessary because direct evidence of the accused's state of mind is rarely available. ... "Whether a criminal defendant possessed the specific intent to kill is a question for the trier of fact. ... This court will not disturb the trier's determination if, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. ... [I]n viewing evidence which could yield contrary inferences, the [fact finder] is not barred from drawing those inferences consistent with guilt and is not required to draw only those inferences consistent with innocence. The rule is that the [fact finder's] function is to draw whatever inferences from the evidence or facts established by the evidence it deems to be reasonable and logical.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the concurrence
   e.g. 175 Conn. App. 22 - State v. Franklin

3. “[a] witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, experience, training, education or otherwise may testify in the form of an opinion or otherwise concerning scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge, if the testimony will assist the trier of fact in understanding the evidence or in determining a fact in issue. ... [I]n order to be admissible, the proffered expert's knowledge must be directly applicable to the matter specifically in issue.... The true test for the admissibility of expert testimony is whether the witnesses offered as experts have any peculiar knowledge or experience, not common to the world, which renders their opinions founded on such knowledge or experience any aid to the court or the jury in determining the question at issue.... The test for admissibility is not limited to matters of scientific knowledge. Generally, expert testimony may be admitted if the witness has a special skill or knowledge, beyond the ken of the average juror, that, as properly applied, would be helpful to the determination of an ultimate issue. ... The trial court has wide discretion in ruling on the admissibility of expert testimony and, unless that discretion has been abused or the error is clear and involves a misconception of the law, its ruling will not be disturbed.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 171 Conn. App. 784 - State v. Day