Opinion ID: 2275955
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Ill Dec.omposed Body

Text: Lickliter asserts that the failure to suppress repeated prejudicial testimony regarding the decomposition of the victim's body was reversible error. We disagree. Before trial, defense counsel moved to preclude photographs of the victim's body as well as testimony regarding the advanced state of decomposition. The trial judge granted the motion as to the photographs, but overruled the request to preclude the testimony. Thereafter, the witness who found the victim's body testified that it smelled and two doctors testified to the advanced state of decomposition, which included maggot activity. Lickliter cites no authority for the proposition that testimony regarding the decomposed body of a victim is admissible only under the standards for admissibility of photographs of such victims. Obviously, the testimony by the forensic experts as to the decomposition of the body is not at all like photographic evidence. Nevertheless, even under the same standard pertaining to photographs, it is well settled that such evidence is not inadmissible simply because it is gruesome and the crime scene is heinous. Adkins v. Commonwealth, Ky., 96 S.W.3d 779 (2003). Inflammatory evidence does not preclude the revelation of the true facts surrounding the commission of a crime when the facts are relevant and necessary. Adkins, supra . The testimony of the forensic experts was both relevant and admissible. The Commonwealth is required to establish each and every element of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Brown v. Commonwealth, Ky., 890 S.W.2d 286 (1994). Given the evidence of the defense concerning Lickliter's alleged delusions, the testimony by the forensic experts of the advanced state of decomposition was important to determine the approximate date of death. Thus, the Commonwealth was able to show that the time of death coincided with the time the victim was with Lickliter. There was no error in allowing testimony concerning the smell of the body. The trial judge did not err in ruling that the complained of evidence was admissible.