Opinion ID: 1680790
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Victim photograph.

Text: ¶ 21. Dubose argues that State Exhibit-3, a photograph depicting the gunshot wound to the back of Harris's head, was not relevant pursuant to M.R.E. 401 because there was no dispute as to Harris's death nor that Dubose shot him. Even if the photograph is deemed relevant by this Court, Dubose contends that pursuant to M.R.E. 403 the probative value is outweighed by the prejudicial effect. ¶ 22. The argument in Randolph v. State, 852 So.2d 547, 566 (Miss.2002), is similar to Dubose's claim that there was no dispute as to the identity of the victim. Nevertheless, this Court upheld the admission of the photograph in Randolph. This Court set out the standard of review for admission of pictures of a gruesome crime scene in Randolph: This Court held that the admissibility of pictures of gruesome crime scenes is within the sound discretion of the trial court. Chatman v. State, 761 So.2d 851, 854 (Miss.2000). Reversal of the trial court will occur only where there is a clear abuse of discretion. Id.; Davis v. State , 551 So.2d [165, 173 (Miss.1989)]. The discretion of the trial judge `runs toward almost unlimited admissibility regardless of the gruesomeness, repetitiveness, and the extenuation of probative value.' Spann v. State, 771 So.2d 883, 895 (Miss.2000)(quoting Williams v. State, 544 So.2d 782, 785 (Miss.1987)). Photographs are considered to have evidentiary value in the following instances: 1. aid in describing the circumstances of the killing; 2. describe the location of the body and cause of death; 3. supplement or clarify witness testimony. Spann v. State, 771 So.2d at 895 (quoting Westbrook v. State, 658 So.2d 847(Miss.1995)). In Davis v. State, 551 So.2d at 173, this Court held that photographs of the victim should not ordinarily be admitted into evidence where the killing is not contradicted or denied, and the corpus delicti and the identity of the deceased have been established. However, this Court stated that photographs of bodies may be admitted into evidence if they have probative value, are not too gruesome and are not used in an overly prejudicial or inflammatory way in a criminal case. Id. In Davis, this Court recognized that the defendant killed the victim and as such there was no need to establish the identity of the killer or victim. Id. The Court did find that the photographs had probative value and were properly admitted into evidence. Id. Randolph, 852 So.2d at 566. ¶ 23. Here, the trial court admitted the photograph after an on-the-record discussion with counsel. The photograph depicted the bullet wound Harris received in the back of his head. Patrolman Patrick testified that the photograph was taken by him at the scene of the crime. The officer testified that the photograph depicted a close-up of Harris's head and represented his body as Patrolman Patrick found the victim lying on the ground at the scene. In addition, the photograph was probative of Harris's means of death. The pathologist, Dr. McGarry, testified and used the photograph to explain to the jury the trajectory of the bullet and how Harris died of the bullet wound. Also, as the State argued at trial, the fact that Harris was shot in the back of his head has relevance to Dubose's claim that she acted in self-defense. Clearly, the photograph had probative value and was not unfairly prejudicial. The photograph showed the position and location of the body at the time of death and assisted the jury in understanding the cause of death. Accordingly, this issue is without merit.