Opinion ID: 1152348
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Issue # 2: Did the Circuit Judge Err by Admitting into Evidence the Hand Gun and Scale Without Requiring the State to Prove the Relevancy of These Items?

Text: Hemphill contends that the circuit judge should not have allowed the State to admit into evidence the gun and scale without having to prove relevancy. [1] The State counters: (1) that the gun and scale were found in close proximity with the [marijuana]; (2) that weapons and scales are tools of the drug trade; and therefore (3) that the gun and scale were relevant to the crime with which Hemphill was charged. Case law supports the State's argument. See, e.g., Martin v. State, 413 So.2d 730, 733-34 (Miss. 1982) (In cases involving a narcotics charge, probative weight of weapons, scales, and other tools of the trade generally is not overbalanced by [possible] inflammatory consequence of admitting these items into evidence.) (citing numerous supportive cases). This Court therefore rejects Hemphill's contention and affirms on this issue.