Opinion ID: 1423118
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: ivadmission of photograph of deceased

Text: Defendant claims that the trial court erred by admitting into evidence People's Exhibit B, a photograph of the deceased, because the exhibit was inflammatory and without probative value. The photograph, which was taken of the corpse, showed the fatal knife wound and also the surgical incision made in an effort to save the life of Tommie Hughes. The trial court unquestionably has discretion to determine whether a photographic exhibit is unnecessarily gruesome and inflammatory. Unless an abuse of discretion is shown, the trial court's decision as to admissibility of a photograph will not be disturbed on review. Potts v. People, 114 Colo. 253, 158 P.2d 739, 159 A.L.R. 1410. We find no abuse of discretion in the case at bar. A photograph of a deceased homicide victim is admissible in a criminal trial, if it depicts anything which it is competent for a witness to describe in words. Bradney v. People, 162 Colo. 403, 426 P.2d 765; People v. Spinuzzi, supra ; Martinez v. People, 123 Colo. 170, 235 P.2d 810; Potts v. People, supra . The fact that the photograph showed the surgical incision made after the stabbing does not affect admissibility. Armijo v. People, supra . Moreover, a medical witness carefully pointed out to the jury that the stab wound was not coextensive with the suturing. Although defendant relies upon Archina v. People, 135 Colo. 8, 307 P.2d 1083, the prejudicial error created by the photographs admitted in that case stemmed from a factual situation strikingly different from this case. From our examination of this record and of the briefs of counsel, we are convinced that defendant had a fair trial and that the verdict of the jury was warranted by the evidence. Judgment affirmed.