Opinion ID: 1999056
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Offer of evidence.

Text: The state offered in evidence appellant's shirt which was stained with blood which matched that of Miss Gonzales. Prior to offering this shirt in evidence, the district attorney called two state crime laboratory technicians and several police officers to testify concerning the shirt. No objection was made at that time or until the shirt was actually offered into evidence. At this point the trial court sustained defense counsel's objection that the shirt was improperly seized. Appellant now argues that this exhibit was so prejudicial that, even if the jury was instructed to disregard the exhibit, the mere offer is a basis for a new trial. This court has recently indicated that when the trial court instructs a jury to disregard some evidence, such an instruction is presumed to efface any possible prejudice. [6] The appellant here has done nothing to rebut this presumption. It would also seem that if counsel for defense thought this exhibit to be so prejudicial to his client he should have objected when the first testimony relating to the shirt was introduced, and not waited until after the damaging evidence was before the jury. It also should be noted that the fact that the blood on the shirt matched that of the deceased supports appellant's assertion that he had covered the girl's body with his shirt when the body was discovered the following morning. Thus it appears that in the instant case the jury, in any event, was shown an exhibit which was not greatly prejudicial to the appellant.