Washington V. Ciskie

In this case, the trial court admitted expert testimony to assist the jury in understanding the behavior and mental state of a crime victim. The victim alleged she had been raped at least four times while engaged in a relationship with the appellant which lasted over a period of almost 23 months. In State v. Allery, 101 Wash. 2d 591, 682 P.2d 312 (1984), this court held that in the applicable circumstances where a murder defendant raises a claim of self-defense, the defense may offer expert testimony to assist the jury in assessing the defendant's perception of the threat posed by the murder victim at the time of the homicide. Here we have the question of when, if ever, the State may appropriately offer the same type of expert testimony to assist the trier of fact in understanding the mental state of a crime victim.