Opinion ID: 1158185
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Photographs and Slides of Victims

Text: (31) Defendant complains of the admission at the penalty phase of the same crime scene photographs and autopsy slides admitted at the guilt phase of trial. As defendant concedes, however, he failed to renew his objection at the penalty phase, thereby waiving any claim of error on appeal. ( People v. Frank (1990) 51 Cal.3d 718, 734-735 [274 Cal. Rptr. 372, 798 P.2d 1215].) In any event, the trial court properly exercised its discretion in admitting the slides. As previously discussed, the evidence was relevant at the guilt trial to show malice, premeditation and deliberation. At the penalty trial, the evidence was also relevant to the issues of aggravation and penalty. It demonstrated graphically the circumstances of the crime and therefore was relevant to a determination of the appropriateness of the death penalty. ( People v. Raley, supra, 2 Cal.4th at p. 914; accord, People v. Benson (1990) 52 Cal.3d 754, 785-786 [276 Cal. Rptr. 827, 802 P.2d 330]; People v. Thompson, supra, 50 Cal.3d at pp. 181-182.) [22] As previously discussed ( ante, p. 247), we agree with defendant that the trial court erred in permitting Philip Durbin to identify his wife's body in a crime scene photograph. ( People v. Bonin, supra, 47 Cal.3d at pp. 848-849, 851-852.) Nevertheless, as noted earlier, the testimony was factual, had no potential to inflame a reasonable juror, and could not have exposed defendant to prejudice. ( Ibid. )