Opinion ID: 2002019
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Gun owner's manual

Text: Shuman next contends that the court erred in admitting, over his objection, the gun owner's manual. He argues that because the gun used in the shooting had not been located the State was unable to connect the manual with the gun used in the charged offense. [T]he admissibility into evidence of an object or article which testimony tends to make relevant as an evidentiary exhibit in the nature of `demonstrative' or `real' evidence, lies, essentially, in the discretion of the [trial court]. Cope v. Sevigny, 289 A.2d 682, 689 (Me.1972). If relevant, such evidence is admissible unless unfairly prejudicial to the defendant. State v. Philbrick, 481 A.2d 488, 494 (Me. 1984). In addition to Mrs. Shuman's testimony that the manual belonged to Shuman and was the manual for the gun in Shuman's possession on the evening of February 19th, Alfred Smith testified that the manual depicted the same type, make and model as the 9 mm Intratech gun he purchased and had given to Shuman prior to the date of the alleged offenses. Although the gun itself was not located, shells found at the scene established that the type of weapon used in the shooting was the type described in the manual. Thus, the manual was relevant to establish the availability to Shuman of the type of weapon used in the shooting. Forbes, 445 A.2d at 12. The State's inability to produce the actual weapon goes to the weight of the evidence not to its admissibility. See State v. Lindsey, 447 A.2d 794, 796 (Me. 1982). Moreover, although the description of the gun was prejudicial to Shuman's case, it was not unfairly so. The manual alone was not likely to overwhelm the jury's reason or move the jury to decide the case on an improper basis. Forbes, 445 A.2d at 12-13; Philbrick, 481 A.2d at 494. See also State v. Lagasse, 410 A.2d 537, 541 (Me.1980) (no unfair prejudice when physical evidence merely corroborates testimonial evidence). The court did not abuse its discretion by admitting the manual in evidence in the trial of this case.