Opinion ID: 1561582
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Computer Animated Visualization

Text: Because it will also no doubt be an issue at any new trial, we consider the admissibility of the computer animated visualization. Computer generated evidence is an increasingly common form of demonstrative evidence. Barbara E. Bergman and Nancy Hollander, 3 Wharton's Criminal Evidence, § 16:30 at 972 (15th ed. 1999) ( Wharton's ). If the purpose of the computer evidence is to illustrate and explain a witness's testimony, courts usually refer to the evidence as an animation. See Kristin L. Fulcher, Comment, The Jury as Witness: Forensic Computer Animation Transports Jurors to the Scene of a Crime or Automobile Accident, 22 U. Dayton L.Rev. 55, 58 (1996); See, e. g., Pierce v. State, 718 So.2d 806, 808 (Fla.Ct.App.1997). In contrast, a simulation is based on scientific or physical principles and data entered into a computer, which is programmed to analyze the data and draw a conclusion from it, and courts generally require proof to show the validity of the science before the simulation evidence is admitted. Id.; see also Clark v. Cantrell, 339 S.C. 369, 529 S.E.2d 528, 535 n. 2 (2000). The record clearly reveals that the computer evidence admitted in this case is properly classified as an animation, rather than a simulation. The evidence was admitted to explain and illustrate Officer Farmer's testimony about how the accident occurred. [19] At the risk of stating the obvious, we note that a computer animation offered to illustrate an expert's opinion will not be admissible unless the expert testimony is itself admissible pursuant to McDaniel and the applicable Tennessee Rules of Evidence. See Pierce, 718 So.2d at 809. The proponent must further establish that the computer animation is a fair and accurate depiction of the event it purports to portray. See Tenn. R. Evid. 901; State v. Williams, 913 S.W.2d 462, 466 (Tenn.1996); Phillips v. F.W. Woolworth, Co., 867 S.W.2d 316, 318 (Tenn.Ct.App.1992); see also Wharton's at 973; Pierce, 718 So.2d at 809; Cleveland v. Bryant, 236 Ga.App. 459, 512 S.E.2d 360, 362 (1999); Hutchison v. American Family Mut. Ins. Co., 514 N.W.2d 882, 890 (Iowa 1994); Gosser v. Commonwealth, 31 S.W.3d 897, 903 (Ky.2000); State v. Harvey, 649 So.2d 783, 789 (La.Ct.App.1995); People v. McHugh, 124 Misc.2d 559, 476 N.Y.S.2d 721, 722 (N.Y.Sup.Ct.1984); Clark, 529 S.E.2d at 536; Sommervold v. Grevlos, 518 N.W.2d 733, 737-38 (S.D.1994); Mintun v. State, 966 P.2d 954, 959 (Wyo.1998). Because the jury may be so persuaded by its life-like nature that it becomes unable to visualize an opposing or differing version of the event, the requirement that the animation fairly and accurately portray the event is particularly important when the evidence at issue is a computer animated recreation of an event. See, e.g. State v. Trahan, 576 So.2d 1, 8 (La. 1990)(discussing a motion picture and stating [t]he vivid impressions on the trier of fact created by the viewing of the motion pictures will be particularly difficult to limit....); Clark, 529 S.E.2d at 536 (recognizing that if the portrayal is inaccurate, computer animations pose a high potential to mislead the jury and to create lasting impressions that unduly override other evidence); Sommervold, 518 N.W.2d at 737 (stating that because a video reconstruction has a substantial impact on the jury which will tend to view it as true, to be admissible, such reconstructions must be nearly identical to the actual event); Hinkle v. City of Clarksburg, 81 F.3d 416, 424-25 (4th Cir.1996) (stating that because of its unusual persuasive value, to be admissible, a computer animated visualization must be substantially similar to the actual event). Like all evidence in Tennessee, a computer animation is subject to exclusion if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. See Tenn. R. Evid. 403; See also Pierce, 718 So.2d at 809 (Fla.Ct.App.1997); Gosser, 31 S.W.3d at 903; Clark, 529 S.E.2d at 536; Sommervold, 518 N.W.2d at 737. If a computer animated portrayal is inaccurate, its probative value decreases and the likelihood that it will be subject to exclusion under Rule 403 increases. Like other evidence, the admissibility of computer animations generally rests within the sound discretion of the trial court, with the rules of evidence governing the exercise of the trial court's discretion. Applying these rules to the facts in this record, we conclude that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the computer animated visualization in this case because it is not a fair and accurate portrayal of the event depicted, and as a result, its probative value was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. Although Officer Farmer was unable to make a determination as to the speed of the defendant's Camaro, the computer animation includes the Camaro and depicts it at various speeds throughout the animation. For example, at the beginning of the animation, the Camaro is depicted traveling ahead of the Mitsubishi. Later, the Mitsubishi overtakes the Camaro, and just before the collision occurs, the animation shows the Camaro accelerating through the curve and passing the Mitsubishi. Professor Owen testified that the Camaro was depicted at the critical speed of 73.88 miles per hour. The depiction of the Camaro ahead of the Mitsubishi at the beginning of the animation is inconsistent with the proof. The eyewitness testimony consistently described the cars as side-by-side. Officer Farmer did not dispute or elaborate on these descriptions. Professor Owen indicated that he did not base this portion of the depiction upon specific evidence, but he said the cars must have been in this position to have later been side-by-side as described by the eyewitnesses. However, Professor Owen was not qualified as an accident reconstructionist and should not have based the animation upon his own assumptions, opinions, or conclusions. The depiction is also inconsistent with Officer Farmer's testimony conceding that he had not determined the critical speed for the lane in which the defendant was traveling. While Officer Farmer opined that it probably would not vary a tremendous amount, he testified that the critical speed for the defendant's lane of travel definitely would not have been 73.88 miles per hour. Therefore, the animation is inaccurate in its depiction of the Camaro traveling at 73.88 miles per hour. In addition, the animation's depiction of the Camaro accelerating out of the curve is not supported by the evidence, and in fact, seems to be inconsistent with Officer Farmer's testimony about the critical speed at which a vehicle could safely negotiate the curve. Finally, it is not clear what speed the animation uses to depict the Chrysler minivan and the Volvo since there is no evidence in the record indicating the speed of these vehicles prior to impact. Given that the computer animated visualization is based upon inaccurate and incomplete information, we conclude that the trial court erred in admitting it at trial. We also note that the animation depicted the accident a total of fifteen times at various speeds. While we set no limit on how many times a visualization may depict an event, we emphasize that trial judges must carefully monitor such evidence and prevent cumulative presentation if it poses a substantial risk of unfairly prejudicing the defendant. See Tenn. R. Evid. 403 and Tenn. R. Evid. 611. As previously stated, animations generally have a substantial impact upon jurors, and that impact is no doubt increased where jurors are allowed to view the animated visualization not once or twice, but fifteen separate times. For all these reasons, we conclude that the trial court erred in admitting the computer animated visualization. We emphasize, however, that the State may again seek admission of the computer animated visualization at the new trial. Of course, as a prerequisite to admissibility, the State must establish that the animation has been corrected to fairly and accurately illustrate and explain the testimony of Officer Farmer. The trial court should be guided by the principles discussed in this opinion when deciding whether to permit the introduction of the computer animated visualization. We commend the trial court for clearly instructing the jury that the animation is not itself evidence and was offered only to illustrate the testimony of the expert witness. Such an instruction is appropriate whenever computer animation evidence is admitted.