Opinion ID: 1363141
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The trial court erred, as a matter of law, in permitting the State to introduce and show color slides of the body of Weber.

Text: A number of photographs and slides were admitted into evidence. Defendant objects to three of the autopsy slides on the grounds their sole purpose was to inflame the passion and prejudice of the jury and that they had no probative value. This issue has frequently been before this court. Photographs are not rendered inadmissible merely because they are shocking or gruesome if they are relevant and material to the matters at issue. The admission of photographs of a decedent is not error when they are relevant to matters at issue, such as the cause and manner of death, and as an aid in understanding a pathologist's testimony. State v. Gutierrez, 225 Kan. 393, 590 P.2d 1063 (1979); State v. Shultz, 225 Kan. 135, 140, 587 P.2d 901 (1978); State v. White & Stewart, 225 Kan. 87, 587 P.2d 1259 (1978); State v. Soles, 224 Kan. 698, 701, 585 P.2d 1032 (1978). The State's theory of the case was that the cab driver was in the driver's seat when shot by defendant at close range from the back seat during an attempted robbery. The cause and manner of death were relevant and the slides were discussed by the pathologist in his testimony, although not shown to the jury until later in order to save the pathologist some time. The slides showed only the wounds inflicted by the victim's assailant prior to any alteration by autopsy procedures. The point is without merit.