Opinion ID: 728946
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Evidence of the Nelson Robbery

Text: 11 Des Moines drug dealer James Nelson testified at trial that he had been pistol-whipped, shot in the arm, and robbed of approximately $30,000 by members of Kime's organization. Over defense objections, the district court admitted into evidence police photographs of the robbery scene at Nelson's house, photographs of the wounds inflicted on Nelson during the robbery, and Nelson's derringer. Kime argues that the district court abused its discretion by failing to exclude this evidence under Rule 403 because there was no relevant reason to admit this evidence other than to inflame the jury by showing them the bloody pictures of the violent assault. 12 We believe that this evidence was properly admitted as corroborating Groves, Brown, and McGee's testimony implicating Kime in the robbery. In addition, the photographs documenting Nelson's gunshot wound and head injuries were also probative of why Nelson misidentified Bell, who was indisputably incarcerated at the time of the robbery, as one of his assailants. Neither do we find this evidence particularly prejudicial as unduly gruesome or confusing. We find no abuse of discretion.