Opinion ID: 2587723
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Photograph of Drake

Text: During defense counsel's cross-examination of Engelhardt's girlfriend, Drake, she said she felt threatened on the night of the murder by Engelhardt's and Brian's actions. Defense counsel then referred to her preliminary hearing testimony in which she denied that Engelhardt ever threatened her. During the State's redirect, the prosecutor attempted to introduce, over defense counsel's objections, a photograph of Drake taken at the time of her arrest after the murder. The photograph depicted bruises on her face. After hearing argument outside the presence of the jury, the district judge allowed the State to introduce the photograph because it showed the relationship between the parties and because it was relevant to Drake's testimony that she was fearful, noting she had initially refused to implicate Engelhardt and later changed her mind. Once the parties were back before the jury, defense counsel again objected to introduction of the photograph, this time based on lack of foundation. Drake then identified herself in the photograph and testified that Engelhardt had hit her in the face with his fist, producing the bruising shown in the photograph. On re-cross, when defense counsel asked Drake how she got the injuries shown in the photograph, she testified that Engelhardt got angry when she told him about his brother-in-law making a sexual advance toward her. She and Engelhardt argued at the trailer, and Engelhardt hit her because she was getting loud and the cops were down the street. This incident happened 3 or 4 days after the murder. Engelhardt now argues the photograph was not admissible as part of the res gestae because the incident that gave rise to Drake's bruises occurred several days after the murder and had nothing to do with it. Evidence is relevant if it renders a desired inference more probable than it would be without the evidence or if it has any tendency in reason to prove any material fact. State v. Sexton, 256 Kan. 344, Syl. ¶ 1, 886 P.2d 811 (1994). Although the relationship of the parties is frequently suggested as a basis independent of K.S.A. 60-455 to admit prior bad acts evidence, Kansas appellate courts have consistently limited it to evidence that establishes the relationship between the defendant and the victim  not the relationship between codefendants or between the defendant and a witness. See, e.g., State v. Lumley, 266 Kan. 939, 953-54, 976 P.2d 486 (1999); State v. Carr, 265 Kan. 608, 624, 963 P.2d 421 (1998); State v. Jones, 247 Kan. 537, 547, 802 P.2d 533 (1990); State v. Crossman, 229 Kan. 384, 387, 624 P.2d 461 (1981). We also tend to agree with Engelhardt that the photograph was not admissible to prove part of the res gestae or to explain why Drake may have initially lied to protect Engelhardt. Her testimony on re-cross concerning the circumstances that led to Engelhardt's violence against her demonstrates no connection to the crime or her changeable stories about it. Regardless, however, we hold that any error in admitting this photograph was harmless. Reversal is required only where an erroneous admission of evidence is of such a nature as to affect the outcome of the trial and deny substantial justice. State v. Walker, 239 Kan. 635, Syl. ¶ 6, 722 P.2d 556 (1986). We are confident the State's overwhelming evidence of Engelhardt's guilt would have led to his conviction, with or without admission of the photograph.