Opinion ID: 1830839
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 18

Heading: Whether the Circuit Court erred in overruling the Appellant's objections to the admission of photographs of the body of Ashley Galloway taken at the house on Simpson Road in Quitman County, MS, and his motion to preclude admission of gruesome and highly prejudicial color photographs and autopsy photographs of the deceased.

Text: ¶ 96. Hughes next contends that the trial court erred when it permitted photographs of Galloway's corpse to be shown to the jury. Hughes specifically objects to the photos marked exhibits 43, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50, and the autopsy photos marked exhibits 55, 56 and 57. ¶ 97. Mississippi applies M.R.E. 403 to determine the propriety of admitting photos of the victim. That familiar rule provides: Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence. Miss. R. Evid. 403. ¶ 98. In McNeal v. State, this Court laid out a guide to assist the trial courts in determining whether photos offered by the State were more prejudicial than probative: [W]e do not presume to conclude that every gruesome photograph admitted into evidence constitutes an abuse of discretion ... we caution the trial judge to carefully consider all the facts and circumstances surrounding the admission of this particular type of evidence. More specifically, the trial court must consider: (1) whether the proof is absolute or in doubt as to identity of the guilty party, as well as, (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). ¶ 99. A determination under Rule 403 and McNeal is within the discretion of the trial court judge. Holland v. State, 587 So.2d 848, 864 (Miss.1991); Stringer v. State, 548 So.2d 125, 134 (Miss.1989)( citing Boyd v. State, 523 So.2d 1037, 1040 (Miss. 1988); Sims v. State, 512 So.2d 1256, 1258 (Miss.1987); McFee v. State, 511 So.2d 130, 134 (Miss.1987)). ¶ 100. Furthermore, the mere fact that the defense will stipulate to what the State hopes to prove by the photos does not bar their admissibility, as this Court explained in Noe v. State, 616 So.2d 298, 303 (Miss.1993); and, Stevens v. State, 458 So.2d 726, 729 (Miss.1984). ¶ 101. Hughes first contends that he was prejudiced not only by the gruesome nature of the photographs, but by the fact that exhibits 43, 46, 47, 48, 49, and 50 were blown up to 8 ½ by 11. The 8 ½ by 11 photos are no more or less gruesome than the 3 ½ by 5 autopsy photos. These were not poster sized blow ups, but obviously simply enlarged to make them more readily viewable, not to exacerbate their unpleasantness, as the trial court judge noted: [THE COURT] If the Court felt like that the blowing up was an effort to somehow inflame the jury, then certainly the Court could consider that point, but clearly it's not an effort, in my mind, it's not an effort on the part of the State to blow up a picture to somehow inflame the jury. It is clearer when you look at it. As pointed out, if this upcoming witness or Dr. Hayne or anyone else decides to use the photograph, it would be easier to testify from; likewise, in looking at the various photographs, even though they may depict obviously the same body, different angles, different positions. Some are closer up; some are further away, but again, I don't think they're cumulative to the extent that they would in any way, any possible way, be prejudicial as far as the effect on the jury. ¶ 102. Exhibit 43 depicts the debris covering Galloway's body. Its relevance goes to demonstrating an attempt to hide the crime. Exhibit 46 shows the location of Galloway's body under the flooring of the abandoned house. Again, the relevance is plain in that it demonstrates the concealed location in which Galloway's body was found. Exhibit 47 shows the extent of the flooring which was removed in order to extricate Galloway's body from the house. Exhibit 48 demonstrates the burned area above the wounds on Galloway's chest, which is relevant to show an attempt to impede the discovery of these wounds. Exhibit 49 shows the extensive injuries to Galloway's face. Exhibit 50 shows Galloway's hand and goes to the presence or lack of defensive wounds. Exhibit 55 clearly shows the burned area of the chest. Exhibit 57 shows the ligature marks on Galloway's neck. Exhibit 56 shows the bruising of Galloway's genital area. ¶ 103. These pictures form the sequence in which the police recovery team uncovered Galloway's body, and as such, form a progressive view of the crime scene and the investigation into the cause and circumstance of Galloway's death. Taking these photos as a whole, it is clear that they are not so gruesome and devoid of probative value as to demonstrate an abuse of discretion on the part of the trial court judge in admitting them.