Opinion ID: 2144314
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Evidence of Book Found in Defendant's Apartment

Text: At trial, the State was permitted to show the jury the cover of a book entitled The Force of Sex. A police officer who investigated the murder testified that he found the book on a coffee table in defendant's apartment two days after the murder. The officer testified that he did not notice the book when he searched the apartment the day after the murder. He testified that the apartment was not locked between the time of the murder and his discovery of the book. No testimony was offered concerning the nature of the book's contents, or about who owned or had read the book. Defendant objected when the State sought to introduce the book into evidence. Defendant argued that the book's potential for prejudice outweighed any probative value it might have. Defendant also contended that there was insufficient evidence linking her to the book, because there was no testimony that she owned or had read it, and because the apartment had not been secured between the time of the murder and the discovery of the book. The trial court ruled that the cover and title of the book were probative to show the defendant's state of mind, and overruled defendant's objections. The jury was allowed to view only the cover of the book and to hear the testimony of the investigating officer about where and when he found it. Evidentiary rulings are within the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be disturbed on review unless the court has abused that discretion. People v. Boclair, 129 Ill.2d 458, 476, 136 Ill.Dec. 29, 544 N.E.2d 715 (1989). The general rule is that physical evidence may be admitted provided there is proof to connect it with the defendant and the crime. People v. Free, 94 Ill.2d 378, 415, 69 Ill.Dec. 1, 447 N.E.2d 218 (1983). Evidence may be inadmissible, however, if it has little probative value due to its remoteness, uncertainty or its possibly unfair prejudicial nature. People v. Enis, 139 Ill.2d 264, 281, 151 Ill.Dec. 493, 564 N.E.2d 1155 (1990). We hold that the trial court erred in admitting the book into evidence. First, because there was no testimony that defendant owned or had read the book, or concerning the nature of its contents, the court had no sound basis for concluding that the book was relevant to the crimes. Second, the fact that the apartment was unsecured for two days before the book was found further diminished the book's relevance to defendant's role in the crimes. Given these circumstances, the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the book. Because the properly admitted evidence of defendant's guilt was so overwhelming, however, we hold that this error was harmless. Miller, 173 Ill.2d at 195, 219 Ill.Dec. 43, 670 N.E.2d 721.