Opinion ID: 558873
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Use of Demonstrative Evidence

Text: 7 Mr. Lockhart argues that the trial judge clearly abused his discretion in allowing the government witness to demonstrate exactly how she transported the cocaine on her body. He cites no authority, but claims that the probative value of this evidence was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice under Fed.R.Evid. 403. 8 The government argues that the evidence of the couriers' technique was both relevant and probative because government witnesses had previously testified how the cocaine was transported. Regardless, the government claims, introduction of this evidence was far less prejudicial than other kinds of evidence routinely admitted by courts. 9 While this evidence, like most admitted against defendants in criminal cases, might have prejudiced Mr. Lockhart, it was not improper. Indeed, it was probative of several issues in dispute, such as how much cocaine could be carried in this fashion and whether a conspiracy existed at all, as shown by the established regimen or technique of transportation. Even if we were to find that the introduction of this evidence violated Rule 403, which we do not, the error was certainly harmless because the manner in which the couriers carried the drugs is insignificant compared to the fact that they had been carrying drugs at all in a transaction involving Mr. Lockhart. 10