Opinion ID: 2457072
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admissibility of Crime Scene and Autopsy Photos

Text: Mr. Knese next argues that the trial court erred in admitting graphic videotape footage and photos of the crime scene, in admitting autopsy photos, and in allowing various witnesses to refer to these exhibits while testifying. During the testimony of one police officer, the State introduced a videotape of the crime scene and played a portion of the tape for the jury that depicted the living room where the killing took place. The videotape showed Ms. Knese's nearly naked body and close-ups of her wounds and bloody and bruised face and neck. Mr. Knese objected that the videotape was unduly prejudicial due to its gruesome nature. During the testimony of a second officer, the State introduced eleven photos of the crime scene, including a number depicting Ms. Knese's body, and close-up photographs of her injuries. One of these photographs was later referred to during the later testimony of a crime scene technician to demonstrate where a piece of clothing he recovered was found. During their guilt phase closing, the State referred to the photos and the videotape to argue that the condition and position of Ms. Knese's body indicated that she was not killed in self-defense. In the penalty phase closing, the State referred to one of the crime scene photographs in arguing that the killing was unreasonably brutal. The autopsy photos introduced during the testimony of the medical examiner show various injuries on Ms. Knese's body, on her hands and arms, inside her mouth and on her head. Some of these injuries are visible in the crime scene photos and videotape, while many are not. The medical examiner used these photographs to explain her autopsy findings. As Mr. Knese recognizes, it is within the trial court's discretion to decide whether potentially inflammatory evidence should be admitted. [14] Even gruesome or graphic depictions are admissible if they demonstrate the nature and location of wounds, show the location and condition of the body, or prove an element of the state's case. [15] In this case, the condition of the crime scene, of Ms. Knese's body, and the severity and nature of her injuries were highly relevant to the key issues in the case: whether a sexual assault had occurred, whether the killing was in self-defense and whether it was a product of deliberation. Thus, these exhibits were admissible and Mr. Knese's objection is not primarily to the relevance of the matter presented, but rather to the repeated presentation of this material to the jury. While we agree with Mr. Knese that graphic depictions of this sort carry a danger of prejudice, the exact line where particular matter, although relevant, crosses the line into being more prejudicial than probative is necessarily a judgment we entrust to the trial court. Here, the trial court was sensitive to these concerns, excluding several photographs of Ms. Knese it deemed duplicative, and sustaining the defense's objection to allowing the jury to view Ms. Knese's body on the videotape a second time. While graphic, the exhibits in question were highly relevant to contested issues in the case, and the trial court acted well within its discretion in concluding that the particular material presented was more probative than prejudicial.