Opinion ID: 2392947
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Video Recording

Text: As part of its case-in-chief during the sentencing phase, the State introduced a video recording of Torres in prison. Torres argues that the introduction of this video recording injected an arbitrary factor into the sentencing phase in violation of section 16-3-25(C)(1) and Rule 403, SCRE. We disagree. As mentioned above, a trial judge has wide latitude concerning the admissibility of evidence. See Rosemond, 335 S.C. at 596, 518 S.E.2d at 589-90. Nonetheless, section 16-3-25(C)(1) establishes that a death sentence must be vacated if it was imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor. Evidence admitted during the sentencing phase of a capital murder trial must be relevant to the character of the defendant or the circumstances of the crime. See Burkhart, 371 S.C. at 487, 640 S.E.2d at 453; State v. Copeland, 278 S.C. 572, 587, 300 S.E.2d 63, 72 (1982). [A]daptability to prison life ... is clearly admissible [ ] and ... evidence of the defendant's characteristics may include prison conditions if narrowly tailored to demonstrate the defendant's personal behavior in those conditions. Burkhart, 371 S.C. at 488, 640 S.E.2d at 453 (emphasis added); see also State v. Tucker, 324 S.C. 155, 174, 478 S.E.2d 260, 270 (1996) (determining that defendant's future dangerousness and his adaptability to prison life are legitimate interests in the sentencing phase of a capital case). The video recording in this case demonstrates exactly the type of evidence that Burkhart permits. The video shows Torres' behavior in a routine prison situation where he repeatedly refused to accede to prison guards' numerous requests to submit to a pat-down. Because the video recording is probative on the issue of Torres' adaptability to prison life, which is a legitimate concern in the sentencing phase of a capital case, the video does not introduce an arbitrary factor into the jury's determination. Nonetheless, this evidence is still subject to Rule 403, SCRE. The appellate court reviews a trial judge's ruling on admissibility of evidence pursuant to an abuse of discretion standard and gives great deference to the trial court. See State v. Holland, 385 S.C. 159, 171, 682 S.E.2d 898, 904 (Ct.App.2009). We believe the trial judge's ruling was correct because the probative value far outweighs any prejudice stemming from the video and any unfair prejudice is de minimis. The video recording presented the jury with competent evidence to showcase Torres' character and adaptability to prison life by illustrating Torres in an actual routine prison situation. While prior testimony had already established Torres' prior convictions and his problems with maintaining parole conditions, this video recording was unique in its application to a specific parameter held by this Court to not be arbitrary in the sentencing phase of a capital murder trial. See Burkhart, 371 S.C. at 488, 640 S.E.2d at 453. As his final argument, Torres claims that introducing the video recording gave undue emphasis to the evidence, relying on State v. Gulledge, 277 S.C. 368, 287 S.E.2d 488 (1982). We find Gulledge is readily distinguishable from the present case. Gulledge held that allowing the jury to take a tape recording transcript into the jury room placed undue emphasis on that evidence. Id. at 371-72, 287 S.E.2d at 490. Torres is not arguing that the jury should not have been allowed to take the video into the jury room; rather he argues the video should not have been introduced in the first place. Nothing in Gulledge supports the idea that the tape recording was not appropriately introduced. Instead, Gulledge provides that the trial judge should not have allowed the jury to take the tape transcripts into the jury room. Furthermore, the video recording here goes to Torres' adaptability to prison life and character, factors which are clearly relevant to the jury's sentencing decision. See Burkhart, 371 S.C. at 488, 640 S.E.2d at 453. Therefore, the trial judge properly allowed the video into evidence.