Opinion ID: 2354297
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Humanizing evidence.

Text: Appellant recites numerous complaints regarding the claimed irrelevancy of evidence that humanized the victims and described the horrific nature of their injuries. We have stated many times that evidence that a murder victim was not a mere statistic but an individual human being with a personality and activities does not unduly prejudice the defendant or inflame the jury. Caudill, 120 S.W.3d at 662 (citations omitted); see also Adkins v. Commonwealth, Ky., 96 S.W.3d 779, 794 (2003); Stopher v. Commonwealth, Ky., 57 S.W.3d 787, 802-03 (2001); Love v. Commonwealth, Ky., 55 S.W.3d 816, 827 (2001); Hodge, 17 S.W.3d at 847; Bowling v. Commonwealth, Ky., 942 S.W.2d 293, 302-03 (1997). Further, testimony describing the nature of the wounds and the cause of death or injury is relevant to prove the corpus delicti. Caudill, supra, at 659. Armotta's testimony regarding her life experiences, employment, and family leading up to the events of June 29, 1999, was also relevant background evidence. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in admitting this evidence. KRE 403; English, 993 S.W.2d at 945 (citations omitted).