Opinion ID: 1310716
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admissibility Into Evidence of Videotape and Sound Recording and Photographs.

Text: Stamper maintains that the court erred in admitting into evidence photographs of the victims and a videotape in black and white with sound recording which described the scene inside Shoney's Restaurant on the morning of March 25. In Stamper's view, since he stipulated that the victims were dead and did not object to the diagram introduced by the Commonwealth to show where the bodies were found, the videotape was not needed to establish any necessary fact but was introduced to inflame and prejudice the jury. He argues that any probative value of this evidence was far outweighed by its prejudicial and inflammatory effect. The admissibility of photographic evidence rests within the sound discretion of the trial court. Waye v. Commonwealth, supra, 219 Va. at ___, 251 S.E.2d at 208; Smith v. Commonwealth, supra, 219 Va. at 467, 248 S.E.2d at 143. There is no abuse of discretion in admitting photographs which are `relevant and material to establish premeditation and malice and to show the degree of atrociousness of the crime.' Id., citing Brown v. Commonwealth, 212 Va. 515, 519, 184 S.E.2d 786, 789 (1971), vacated on other grounds, 408 U.S. 940, 92 S.Ct. 2877, 33 L.Ed.2d 763 (1972). See Evans v. Commonwealth, 215 Va. 609, 614, 212 S.E.2d 268, 272 (1975). We believe that it is also within the discretion of the trial court to determine the admissibility of videotape films. In other jurisdictions, it has been held that such films, if relating to otherwise competent evidence, are generally admissible in criminal trials. See People v. Mines, 132 Ill.App.2d 628, 270 N.E.2d 265 (1971); State v. Johnson, 18 N.C.App. 606, 197 S.E.2d 592 (1973); Williams v. State, 461 S.W.2d 614 (Tex.Cr.App.1970); Annot., 60 A.L.R.3d 333 (1974). Ordinarily, the admissibility of videotape films is governed by the same rules which apply to the admission of photographs or motion pictures. See State v. Lusk, 452 S.W.2d 219 (Mo.1970); Paramore v. State, 229 So.2d 855 (Fla.1969), vacated on other grounds, 408 U.S. 935, 92 S.Ct. 2857, 33 L.Ed.2d 751 (1972); People v. Heading, 39 Mich.App. 126, 197 N.W.2d 325 (1972). We have viewed the photographs introduced into evidence and have seen the videotape and heard the sound recording which described the interior of the restaurant after the police arrived. The photographs and the videotape graphically portrayed a scene of otherwise indescribable violence. The sound recording with the videotape was a factual narration by an investigating officer of the interior arrangement of the restaurant and the relative positions of the bodies of Staples and Mrs. Hicks. This evidence tended to support the Commonwealth's theory that the killer's motive was robbery, that he was familiar with the interior of the restaurant, and with the operating routine of the business, that he and the victims knew one another, and that he acted with brutal ferocity. The Commonwealth was not precluded from offering such evidence by Stamper's willingness to stipulate certain facts. Inge v. Commonwealth, 217 Va. 360, 364, 228 S.E.2d 563, 566 (1976). We hold that the trial court, which could reasonably conclude that the probative value of the evidence outweighed its prejudicial effect, did not abuse its discretion in ruling that the photographs, videotape and sound recording were admissible.