Opinion ID: 844193
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Ambulance Tape

Text: Defendant objected to the playing of a tape recording in which Yolanda was heard screaming during the ambulance ride to the hospital. He argued that, 36 under Evidence Code section 352, the evidence was cumulative and unfairly prejudicial. Again, the prosecutor argued that the tape recording showed the degree of pain suffered by Yolanda, which was relevant to the issues relating to torture murder and to the torture special-circumstance allegation. The trial court overruled the objection, finding that the evidence was relevant. It found that although the tape recording was ―to some extent‖ cumulative, it was a ―different type of evidence,‖ i.e., ―a presentation of what was going on at the time, rather than somebody‘s verbal recitation of what they recall.‖ The court further explained that it was relevant and material for the jury ―to actually hear from the victim‘s own mouth expressions of the kind of pain that she was sensing as it goes to the issues in the lawsuit.‖