Opinion ID: 1999621
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Video-taped confessions.

Text: Defendant objects to the fact that the trial court permitted the jury to see two video tapes of his third confession, asserting that the confession was overemphasized and that the evidence was merely cumulative. A similar contention was raised in Kwosek v. State (1960), 8 Wis. 2d 640, 100 N. W. 2d 339. In that case this court stated the following at pages 644 and 645: Plaintiff in error contends that the jury became prejudiced by hearing twice what his counsel calls `the gory details.' We think no error was committed. It is largely a matter of discretion for the trial court to determine how many witnesses may testify to the same event, though the event involves unpleasant details. When the evidence becomes merely cumulative, the trial court may refuse to hear additional witnesses on the same subject. Even if the two confessions were identical in every respect, we would find that there was no abuse of discretion in admitting the evidence concerning them, the confessions being made at different times and one being oral and the other by written, signed statement. We find no abuse of discretion in admitting two video tapes of the same confession. The reason the trial court permitted the jury to see both was that one of the tapes gave a better view of the facial expressions of the defendant. This was a justifiable exercise of discretion.