Opinion ID: 1690126
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: did the trial court err in overruling jordan's objection to a visual aid allegedly showing the path of the bullet?

Text: ś 97. Jordan alleges that it was error for the trial court to allow the prosecutor to use a visual aid during closing arguments to show that Jordan's description of how the murder occurred was incredible. Jordan alleged that Edwina was running away from him and that he had attempted to fire a warning shot, presumably above her head, but that the bullet struck and killed her. The State's theory was that Edwina had been murdered by being shot in the back of the head while kneeling on the ground in the manner of an execution. ś 98. State Exhibit 26 was a picture of a man firing a gun up into the air and a woman in a running position ahead of him. The picture showed a presumed trajectory of the bullet going up and then coming back down to enter in the lower part of the woman's head and then exit in an upward manner, as Edwina's wound occurred. Even someone without any ballistics training can see that a bullet cannot travel in the way the picture depicted. ś 99. The State contends first that there is no evidence that the visual aid was used. The record supports the State's contention because there is no indication that the picture was described or referred to in the State's closing argument. ś 100. Even if the drawing had been shown to the jury, there would be no merit in the argument. Jordan argues that the picture is unfair and misleading. We have held that a trial court should be careful in limiting the freedom of manner that counsel can use in making their arguments to a jury. Brewer v. State, 704 So.2d 70, 73 (Miss.1997). Demonstrative aids are allowed where they are based on the evidence presented. In this case, the State was properly allowed to show that Jordan's description of how the crime took place was unbelievable. On the other hand, Jordan could have easily refuted this evidence by pointing out the ludicrousness of the very same demonstrative aid. Therefore, there was no error in the trial court allowing the use of visual aid.