Opinion ID: 1778765
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 29

Heading: the photographs used against the accused denied him a fair trial.

Text: ś 151. Manning asserts that the trial judge erred in admitting gruesome photographs of the victims into evidence. The defense objected to photographs S-58 and S-65 A-D, on the ground that they were prejudicial. These photographs were taken at the time of the autopsy. They were admitted during the testimony of the state pathologist, Dr. Steven Hayne. In overruling the defense objections, the trial judge ruled that the photographs depicted the injuries to the victims as testified to by Dr. Hayne. ś 152. Manning argues that black and white photos should have been used in order to reduce the potential for prejudice. As long as the color photographs are probative, they are admissible under the same conditions as black and white photographs. Kelly v. State, 278 So.2d 400, 402 (Miss.1973). ś 153. In McNeal v. State, this Court cautioned trial courts to consider all the facts and circumstances surrounding the admission of inflammatory photographs. Specifically, the trial court must consider, (1) whether the proof is absolute or in doubt as to the identity of the guilty party, and, (2) whether the photographs are necessary evidence or simply a ploy on the part of the prosecutor to arouse the passion and prejudice of the jury. McNeal v. State, 551 So.2d 151, 159 (Miss. 1989). ś 154. This Court has allowed photographs to show the different wounds to the victim, Jenkins v. State, 607 So.2d 1171, 1175 (Miss. 1992), and in cases where they aided in the description of the circumstances of the murder and the corpse. Westbrook v. State, 658 So.2d 847, 849 (Miss.1995). ś 155. The standard of review for this issue is that the admissibility of photographic evidence rests within the sound discretion of the trial judge. The lower court's ruling will be upheld on appeal unless abuse of discretion can be shown. Jenkins v. State, 607 So.2d 1171, 1175 (Miss.1992). ś 156. The photographs in question were autopsy photos of the two victims. Their probative value was that they accurately depicted the wounds suffered by Jon and Tiffany, which were testified to by Dr. Hayne. Based on the caselaw, the pictures themselves, and the standard of review, the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in admitting these photographs. This assignment of error is meritless.