Opinion ID: 1163421
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Blood and Weatherstripping Evidence

Text: The police went back to the Wagner townhouse one week after the murder to gather additional physical evidence. They collected additional blood samples. They also removed weatherstripping to see whether a lug wrench had been used to pry open the door. Although Gonzales did not object to the testimony about this evidence at trial, he did object to the admission of the physical evidence itself, arguing that it had been taken from the scene too long after the crime. The court overruled the objection and admitted the evidence. Gonzales now argues that the court should have excluded this evidence under Rule 403, Ariz.R.Evid., and because the state failed to establish a chain of custody. We reject both of these arguments. Gonzales's argument that the blood drops and weatherstripping should have been excluded under Rule 403 is without merit. He has pointed to nothing that would suggest that this evidence was unfairly prejudicial. Moreover, Gonzales failed to object to the evidence on Rule 403 grounds at trial and has thus waived his objection. See State v. Holder, 155 Ariz. 83, 85, 745 P.2d 141, 143 (1987). Gonzales also argues that because the evidence was not gathered from the unsecured crime scene until seven days after the crime, the state could not show a chain of custody. Gonzales's argument that evidence may have been contaminated goes to the weight of the evidence, not its admissibility. State v. Blazak, 114 Ariz. 199, 203, 560 P.2d 54, 58 (1977), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 882, 103 S.Ct. 184, 74 L.Ed.2d 149 (1982). The contamination argument was fully explored on cross-examination and argued to the jury. The court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the physical evidence.