Opinion ID: 888658
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Did the District Court properly exclude a photograph of the victim offered by Schmidt?

Text: ¶ 62 The District Court denied Schmidt's request to introduce a photograph of Correia that depicted Correia's intense eyes. Schmidt argues that the District Court did not evaluate thoroughly the probative value of the photograph. Schmidt cites State v. Dunfee, 2005 MT 147, ¶ 26, 327 Mont. 335, 114 P.3d 217, for the proposition that a trial court must weigh the probative value of a photograph against its prejudicial effect to determine its admissibility. See also M.R. Evid. 403. ¶ 63 Our statement in Dunfee constitutes an application of Rule 403 to specific facts, rather than a general rule pertaining to photographic evidence. Courts apply the Rule 403 balancing test to determine whether relevant evidence should be excluded for reasons of prejudice. State v. Laird, 225 Mont. 306, 312, 732 P.2d 417, 421 (1987); M.R. Evid. 403. Schmidt's argument skips the initial relevance determination. ¶ 64 The District Court determined that Schmidt had failed to make a sufficient showing that the photograph accurately reflected Correia's appearance on the night of the fight. Schmidt also had introduced two other photographs of Correia. These photographs depicted Correia without his shirt, flexing his muscles. The admitted photographs also showed Correia's eyes. Schmidt's counsel had questioned witnesses about Correia's appearance generally, and Correia's eyes in particular. The court observed that the photograph, in addition to being more than four years old, had not been taken in the bar or in Schmidt's presence. The court's determination that the photograph was not relevant precluded any need for it to proceed to the Rule 403 analysis. See Laird, 225 Mont. at 311, 732 P.2d at 421. The District Court did not abuse its discretion by denying its introduction. Damon, ¶ 12.