Opinion ID: 2590108
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Photographs Were Relevant

Text: The rules pertaining to the admissibility of photographic evidence are well-settled. Only relevant evidence is admissible (Evid.Code, § 350; People v. Crittenden [, supra, ] 9 Cal.4th 83, 132, 36 Cal.Rptr.2d 474, 885 P.2d 887; People v. Garceau (1993) 6 Cal.4th 140, 176-177, 24 Cal.Rptr.2d 664, 862 P.2d 664; People v. Babbitt (1988) 45 Cal.3d 660, 681, 248 Cal.Rptr. 69, 755 P.2d 253), and all relevant evidence is admissible unless excluded under the federal or California Constitution or by statute. (Evid.Code, § 351; see also Cal. Const., art. I, § 28, subd. (d).) Relevant evidence is defined in Evidence Code section 210 as evidence `having any tendency in reason to prove or disprove any disputed fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action.' The test of relevance is whether the evidence tends `logically, naturally, and by reasonable inference to establish material facts such as identity, intent, or motive. [Citations.]' ( People v. Garceau, supra, 6 Cal.4th at p. 177, 24 Cal.Rptr.2d 664, 862 P.2d 664.) The trial court has broad discretion in determining the relevance of evidence ( ibid.; People v. Crittenden, supra, 9 Cal.4th at p. 132, 36 Cal.Rptr.2d 474, 885 P.2d 887; People v. Babbitt, supra, 45 Cal.3d at p. 681, 248 Cal.Rptr. 69, 755 P.2d 253) but lacks discretion to admit irrelevant evidence. ( People v. Crittenden, supra, 9 Cal.4th at p. 132, 36 Cal.Rptr.2d 474, 885 P.2d 887; People v. Burgener (1986) 41 Cal.3d 505, 527, 224 Cal.Rptr. 112, 714 P.2d 1251.) ( People v. Scheid, supra, 16 Cal.4th 1, 13-14, 65 Cal.Rptr.2d 348, 939 P.2d 748.) Defendant contends that the photographs had little or no probative value relating to any issue in this case. He argues that although the issue of his intent (or lack thereof) at the time the sexual assaults and homicide were committed [was] very much in dispute, none of the photographs had any tendency in reason to prove that these offenses were in any way preplanned or intentional as opposed to being impulsive acts committed in the heat of passion and under the influence of cocaine and alcohol. Defendant adds that the photographs were inadmissible to establish the cause of death or the nature of Katrina's injuries, because he never contested these points. The People contend in response that the photographs were relevant to show defendant's mental state on the night of the murder, and that because the prosecution was required to prove premeditation and deliberation, the images were relevant to show the manner in which the crimes were committed. The People maintain that the trial court acted within its discretion in admitting the challenged photographs, and also that the photographs were not cumulative. As we shall explain, we conclude that the photographs were clearly relevant within the meaning of Evidence Code section 210. First, as the prosecution argued at trial, the photographs were relevant to establish the injuries suffered by Katrina, the savageness of the attack, and the ferocious nature of the struggle. These images illustrated the testimony of various prosecution witnesses who encountered the victim and viewed the crime scene. (See People v. Scheid, supra, 16 Cal.4th 1, 15, 65 Cal.Rptr.2d 348, 939 P.2d 748 [photograph was corroborative of witnesses' testimony regarding the circumstances of the crime, and the shocking crime scene encountered; thus, photograph bolstered the witnesses' credibility]; People v. Garceau, supra, 6 Cal.4th 140, 181, 24 Cal.Rptr.2d 664, 862 P.2d 664 [photograph of mummified victims hidden within a dresser was highly probative, because it corroborated testimony relating to concealment of the bodies]; People v. Pride (1992) 3 Cal.4th 195, 243, 10 Cal.Rptr.2d 636, 833 P.2d 643 [the photographs were pertinent because they showed the nature and the placement of the fatal wounds]; People v. Allen (1986) 42 Cal.3d 1222, 1256, 232 Cal.Rptr. 849, 729 P.2d 115 [nine photographs of victims were clearly relevant to corroborate witnesses' testimony concerning the location and manner in which the victims were shot]; accord, People v. Taylor (2001) 26 Cal.4th 1155, 1168, 113 Cal.Rptr.2d 827, 34 P.3d 937; see also People v. Hughes (2002) 27 Cal.4th 287, 335-337, 116 Cal.Rptr.2d 401, 39 P.3d 432; People v. Sanders (1990) 51 Cal.3d 471, 514-515, 273 Cal.Rptr. 537, 797 P.2d 561.) The circumstance that defendant did not challenge the prosecution's theory that the attack upon Katrina was a vicious one does not render victim photographs irrelevant. ( People v. Lewis (2001) 25 Cal.4th 610, 641, 106 Cal.Rptr.2d 629, 22 P.3d 392.) Further, the parties vigorously disputed defendant's mental state at the time the crimes were committed. The condition of the victim's body and evidence of defendant's sexual assault therefore were important in establishing the People's case. Thus, for example, the photographs contained in exhibit 4 that depicted the footprint marks found on Katrina's chest and abdomen and the bottle of rubbing alcohol found protruding from her mouth, were probative of the prosecution's theory that defendant's capacity to premeditate and deliberate was evidenced by his attempt to force her to regurgitate the amputated portion of his tongue. Second, the photographs of the crime scene, showing Katrina's body as it was found by paramedics and sheriff's deputies, was relevant in establishing the fact that a murder had occurred. ( People v. Scheid, supra, 16 Cal.4th at p. 15, 65 Cal.Rptr.2d 348, 939 P.2d 748; People v. Taylor, supra, 26 Cal.4th at p. 1168, 113 Cal.Rptr.2d 827, 34 P.3d 937; People v. Seaton (2001) 26 Cal.4th 598, 655, 110 Cal.Rptr.2d 441, 28 P.3d 175.) The circumstance that other evidence existed to establish the murder did not render the photograph irrelevant for purposes of Evidence Code sections 210 and 350. ( People v. Scheid, supra, 16 Cal.4th at p. 15, 65 Cal.Rptr.2d 348, 939 P.2d 748.) Third, the photographs were relevant because they established the means by which defendant accomplished the fatal assault. (See People v. Farnam (2002) 28 Cal.4th 107, 185, 121 Cal.Rptr.2d 106, 47 P.3d 988 [`Generally, photographs that show the manner in which a victim was wounded are relevant to the determination of malice, aggravation and penalty']; see also People v. Lucas (1995) 12 Cal.4th 415, 450, 48 Cal.Rptr.2d 525, 907 P.2d 373 [photographs admissible to illustrate, among other matters, intent to kill, deliberation and the torture element of the torture-murder special circumstance].) Further, the photographs were probative of the allegations involving the infliction of great bodily injury and torture. In particular, the images contained within exhibit 5 illustrated Katrina's injuries, and some of the photographs were referred to by the coroner during his testimony concerning the fatal blows and strangulation suffered by Katrina. The photographs contained within exhibit 6 depicted the bite marks around Katrina's breasts, which illustrated certain aspects of the forensic dentist's testimony intended to identify the perpetrator. Although it is true that the prosecution could have relied upon other evidence to establish the matter at issue, it is immaterial for purposes of determining the relevance of evidence that other evidence may establish the same point. ( People v. Scheid, supra, 16 Cal.4th 1, 16, 65 Cal.Rptr.2d 348, 939 P.2d 748; see also People v. Anderson, supra, 25 Cal.4th 543, 592, 106 Cal.Rptr.2d 575, 22 P.3d 347[[P]hotos are not cumulative simply because they illustrate evidence presented by other means.] In re Romeo C. (1995) 33 Cal.App.4th 1838, 1843, 40 Cal.Rptr.2d 85 [Evidence may be relevant even though it is cumulative; thus, the only ban on cumulative evidence is found in Evidence Code section 352.].) Nor were the photographs somehow rendered irrelevant simply because defendant did not dispute the cause of death or the nature and extent of the victim's injuries. (See People v. Box (2000) 23 Cal.4th 1153, 1199, 99 Cal.Rptr.2d 69, 5 P.3d 130; People v. Smithey (1999) 20 Cal.4th 936, 973-974, 86 Cal.Rptr.2d 243, 978 P.2d 1171.) Moreover, the jury was entitled to see the physical details of the crime scene and the injuries defendant inflicted on his victim[ ]. ( People v. Weaver (2001) 26 Cal.4th 876, 933, 111 Cal.Rptr.2d 2, 29 P.3d 103; see also People v. Crittenden, supra, 9 Cal.4th 83, 133, 36 Cal.Rptr.2d 474, 885 P.2d 887; People v. Pride, supra, 3 Cal.4th 195, 243, 10 Cal.Rptr.2d 636, 833 P.2d 643.) In sum, the photographs clearly satisfied the relevancy requirement embodied in Evidence Code section 210. We therefore conclude that the trial court did not err in finding that the photographs constituted relevant evidence.