Opinion ID: 1624390
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Pregnancy of Female Victim

Text: Parrish contends that the trial judge erred by admitting the statement of the medical examiner that the female victim had an intrauterine pregnancy which was discovered during the autopsy. There was no cross-examination on the subject and it was not mentioned to the jury again during the trial or sentencing procedure. Parrish cites no case law to support his argument and we find this matter to be highly speculative. There was no violation of the Kentucky Rules of Evidence. The trial judge did not abuse in any way her discretion in permitting the medical examiner to simply state, as part of his autopsy findings, that the female victim was pregnant. See Commonwealth v. English, Ky., 993 S.W.2d 941 (1999). Evidence about whom and what the victim was prior to death is properly admissible. See Templeman v. Commonwealth, Ky., 785 S.W.2d 259 (1990); Campbell v. Commonwealth, Ky., 788 S.W.2d 260 (1990); McQueen v. Commonwealth, Ky., 669 S.W.2d 519 (1984). The pregnancy of the female victim was not sensational or shocking or likely to induce any undue sympathy. The probative value of the evidence was not substantially outweighed by the danger of undue prejudice. See KRE 403. Parrish was not denied a fair trial or due process of law under either the federal or state constitutions.