Opinion ID: 2410262
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Admission of photographs of victims

Text: Sanders asserts, in his third point for reversal, that the trial court erred in permitting the State to introduce into evidence crime-scene photographs showing the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Brannon, contending that they were used for no other purpose than to inflame and prejudice the jury. This court has long held that the admissibility of photographs is a matter within the sound discretion of the trial court, and the trial court's ruling will not be reversed absent an abuse of discretion. Hickson v. State, 312 Ark. 171, 847 S.W.2d 691 (1993); Smith v. State, 303 Ark. 524, 798 S.W.2d 94 (1990). Even gruesome photographs are admissible if they assist the jury in any of the following ways: (1) by shedding light on some issue; (2) by proving a necessary element of the case; (3) by enabling a witness to testify more effectively; (4) by corroborating testimony; or (5) by enabling jurors better to understand the testimony. Weger v. State, 315 Ark. 555, 869 S.W.2d 688 (1994); see also Gruzen v. State, 267 Ark. 380, 591 S.W.2d 342 (1979). The mere fact that a photograph is inflammatory is not, in and of itself, a sufficient reason for its exclusion. Weger v. State, supra . As stated previously, a new jury had been empaneled for the resentencing proceedings. The trial court admitted three photographs of the body of Charles Brannon, two photographs of Nancy Brannon's body, and one photograph of their house. The trial court refused to admit nine other photographs. The photographs enabled the jurors, who were unacquainted with the details of the case, to understand better the testimony of witnesses regarding the manner of death and the discovery of the bodies. The probative value outweighed the prejudicial impact, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion.