Opinion ID: 1378242
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Photographs of Victim's Body

Text: Mickens contends that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence five photographs of the victim's body. He asserts that the court abused its discretion because the Commonwealth had presented the medical examiner's testimony about the victim's injuries. In overruling Mickens' objection to the admission of the photographs, the trial court noted that the photographs were relevant and not duplicative. We have ruled time and again, and Mickens concedes, that the admission into evidence of photographs is a matter resting within a trial court's sound discretion. See, e.g., Gray, 233 Va. at 342-43, 356 S.E.2d at 173 (compiling cases). Photographs of a victim that tend to show motive, intent, method, premeditation, malice, or the degree of atrociousness of the crime are relevant. Id. Photographs, even though gruesome, are admissible, provided they accurately portray what an accused did in committing an offense. Id. In the present case, the photographs tended to establish motive, intent, method, premeditation, malice, and atrociousness of the crime and, therefore, were relevant. The pictures, although graphic, accurately portrayed what Mickens had done. Therefore, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting into evidence the photographs of the victim's body.