Opinion ID: 1275779
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: The Jail Drawings

Text: Higgenbotham asserts error in the admission of five pencil drawings of nude women, seized from his cell during a jail shakedown four days before trial. He claims: (1) the drawings had no probative value and (2) they were inflammatory and highly prejudicial. The State contends the face in one of the drawings resembles Jodi's face. Another drawing has two tattoo patterns, one containing a rose. Jodi had a rose tattoo on the back of her hand. The admissibility of physical evidence lies with the discretion of the district court. Admissibility is to be determined based on its relevance concerning the accused and the crime charged. The determination of relevancy is a matter of logic and experience, not a matter of law. State v. Ji, 251 Kan. 3, 15, 832 P.2d 1176 (1992). See State v. Kelly, 262 Kan. at, 765 (determining that admission of prison-issued razors and blades for demonstrative purposes in aggravated battery case was not abuse of discretion). Over objection, the district court admitted the drawings for what they're worth... based on the fact that there is some characteristic evidence between the face on the drawing and the picture of Jonetta McKown, and also the fact of the tattoo being similar, albeit the tattoo, I note, I believe, is located in the drawing on a different part of the physical body. One drawing of a vagina would not have any relevance, other than being located with the other drawings at the time of seizure. Its admission is harmless error. Although the other drawings may well have limited relevance, may be prejudicial, and another judge may have excluded them, their admission is not error under an abuse of discretion standard of review.