Opinion ID: 2319241
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Admission of Photograph of the Victim

Text: Appellant next contends the trial court erred in admitting at his sentencing hearing a photograph of Officer Miller's body at the crime scene. See Appellant's Brief at 40 (Argument VII). In support of his argument, Appellant contends the photograph had no probative value, because the jury had already rendered a first-degree murder conviction, and evidence regarding the crime scene, including the location of Officer Miller's body, had already been introduced by other witnesses. Appellant's Brief at 40. Appellant further avers the photograph had great prejudicial impact. Id. at 41. The Commonwealth disputes Appellant's suggestion that the photograph depicting the location of Officer Miller's body was inflammatory. The Commonwealth additionally argues that indirect testimony regarding what is depicted in a photograph does not inevitably render direct photographic evidence inadmissible, Commonwealth's Brief at 40, and, in support of its position, cites this Court's decision in Commonwealth v. Begley, 566 Pa. 239, 268, 780 A.2d 605, 622-23 (2001) (even where the body's condition can be described through testimony from a medical examiner, such testimony does not obviate the admissibility of photographs). Finally, the Commonwealth notes that this same issue was raised by Appellant's co-defendant, Lesko, and was rejected by this Court, in Lesko, 553 Pa. at 249, 719 A.2d at 225. The admissibility of photographic evidence depicting a crime scene is within the sound discretion of the trial court, and only an abuse of that discretion will constitute reversible error. Commonwealth v. Baez, 554 Pa. 66, 97, 720 A.2d 711, 726 (1998). In determining whether a photograph is admissible, a trial court must first consider whether the photograph is, by its very nature, inflammatory. If the photograph is deemed inflammatory, the court must then determine whether the essential evidentiary value of the photograph outweighs the likelihood that the photograph will improperly inflame the minds and passions of the jury. Id. In the instant case, the trial court admitted the crime scene photograph into evidence, having determined that the photograph was not prejudicial because, inter alia, the photograph was black and white; the injuries Officer Miller sustained were not visible because his body was covered by a blanket; and, due to the time of night and the weather and road conditions, it was difficult to determine from the photograph whether there was any blood visible on the road. Trial Court Opinion, 10/11/07, at 20. As the Commonwealth points out, in Lesko, supra, John Lesko challenged the admission of evidence consisting of revolvers, bullets, autopsy reports, and the same photograph of the crime scene at issue herein. With respect to the photograph, this Court explained, the only photograph admitted over defense objection was a black and white photograph of the crime scene in the Miller homicide. It showed the officer's body lying in the road under a blanket. This photograph served to familiarize the jury with the facts and circumstances of the crime and was not unduly prejudicial. . . . [T]his evidence was a relevant and proper factor in the jury's consideration of the sentence which should be imposed. 553 Pa. at 249-50, 719 A.2d at 225. We likewise hold that Appellant is not entitled to relief on his claim. Our review confirms the trial court's characterization of the photograph: it is in black and white, and, although it shows Officer Miller's body and blood on the road, his body is covered with a blanket so that his wounds are not visible. Accordingly, we cannot conclude that it was inflammatory, and on this basis we reject Appellant's claim.