Can a party cross-examine a witness because the witness refuses to answer the questions?

Where a party cannot cross-examine a witness because the witness refuses to answer, the trial court may strike the direct examination. (People v. Abner (1962) 209 Cal.App.2d 484, 489, 25 Cal.Rptr. 882.) The decision whether to strike the direct examination is left to the discretion of the trial court, and the refusal to answer only one or two questions need not lead to the striking of the testimony. (People v. Robinson (1961) 196 Cal.App.2d 384, 390, 16 Cal.Rptr. 484.)