Opinion ID: 2549552
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Issue 7: Did the district court abuse its discretion in admitting photographic and audiovisual evidence?

Text: Kunellis next claims the trial court erred in allowing the State, over timely objection, to enter four photographs of the aftermath of the accident scene and a videotape taken by a police officer depicting the accident moments after it occurred. He argues the photographs and videotape were unduly prejudicial and needlessly gruesome. The trial court has broad discretion regarding the admission of demonstrative photographs. State v. Roberts, 261 Kan. 320, 329, 931 P.2d 683 (1997). Even where the defendant concedes the cause of death, the prosecution has the burden to prove all the elements of the crime charged; photographs and videotape may be used to prove the elements of the crime, including the fact and manner of death. State v. Smallwood, 264 Kan. 69, 84, 955 P.2d 1209 (1998). See State v. Spears, 246 Kan. 283, 286, 788 P.2d 261 (1990). The photographs reveal that a violent automobile accident occurred as a result of the conduct of Kunellis' group. It is also well settled that photographs which serve to illustrate the nature or extent of the injuries are admissible when they corroborate the testimony of witnesses. Spears, 246 Kan. at 286. In this case, several police officers, a forensic pathologist, and the defendants all testified as to aspects of the accident scene, and the photographs corroborated elements of their testimony. We have reviewed the photographs in the record, and none were gruesome or needlessly repetitious. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the admission of the photographs into evidence. The videotape was taken by Officer Trevino's dash-mounted video camera as he pursued the fleeing truck. At the scene of the accident, he stopped his vehicle directly behind the truck. We have viewed the videotape, and it reveals the stolen motorcycles in the back of the truck, as well as Kris Kunellis and Rogers being removed from the truck. The positioning of Trevino's vehicle behind the truck prevented the viewer of the videotape from observing the damaged passenger compartment of Sloan's and Sanders' automobile. The videotape was relevant to show that a violent automobile accident occurred as a result of the conduct of Kunellis' group and confirmed aspects of the testimony of several key witnesses to the accident scene. The videotape was not gruesome. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in allowing the admission of the videotape into evidence.