Opinion ID: 2613184
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Characteristics of the Victims and Victim Impact Evidence

Text: Libby argues that the admission of certain evidence was improper because it revealed characteristics of the victims. He also contends that the prosecutor improperly referred to victim characteristics by mentioning Beatty's family and Robertson's helplessness because he wore a brace to walk and could not scream out for help. We disagree. The State introduced testimony at the guilt phase to establish Robertson's substantial physical handicaps caused by Hodgkin's disease and also to establish that he was sufficiently intelligent to secure a two-year college degree. This evidence and a photograph of Robertson at his graduation were received into evidence without objection from Libby. Robertson's sister also testified that Robertson was elected student of the year by his fellow students prior to graduation. When the student of the year certificate was offered into evidence, Libby objected on grounds that the evidence was not relevant and cumulative. The judge overruled the objection and the certificate was admitted. Evidence of a victim's character or trait of character is not admissible unless specifically brought into issue. See Coombs v. State, 91 Nev. 489, 490, 538 P.2d 162, 162-63 (1975). However, facts establishing a victim's identity and general background are not what is generally referred to as character evidence and are admissible. The evidence about Robertson that Libby complains of falls into the latter category. Further, the evidence was relevant to the question of how the murders were perpetrated, which was one of the primary factual issues to be determined. The physical and mental capabilities of the victims were relevant to this inquiry and were properly admitted. Likewise, the prosecutor's statement that Robertson's handicaps rendered him helpless was not error. Receipt of the student of the year certificate was more in the nature of character evidence. However, Robertson's receipt of this award was testified to without objection by Libby. While this evidence should not have been received, we do not believe that its admission prejudiced Libby in this case. During the guilt phase of the trial, a photograph of Beatty showing him with his former wife and young children was received into evidence without objection. This photograph was found in the wallet that was in Libby's possession when he was arrested, along with other identification indicating that the wallet belonged to Beatty. During closing arguments at the sentencing phase, the prosecutor briefly referred to the fact that the victims, as well as Libby, had friends and family. Specifically, he stated: [H]e [Libby] has family. He has friends. They love him. That's natural. The victims had family and friends who loved [them] as well. Does that go to the degree of his moral culpability? The State suggests that it does not and we ask that you disregard that, as well. The receipt into evidence of Beatty's photograph and the remarks of the prosecutor were appropriate. The photograph was admitted to show that the wallet in Libby's possession belonged to Beatty. Although Libby argues that there were credit cards and other evidence to establish this fact, whether this photograph should have been held inadmissible on the ground of being cumulative was within the sound discretion of the district court judge. See Yates v. State, 95 Nev. 446, 449-50, 596 P.2d 239, 241-42 (1979). It was relevant, and we find no abuse of discretion. In his closing argument at the penalty phase, the prosecutor merely commented about the victims' family and friends in response to the evidence from Libby's family and in response to the argument of Libby's counsel. These comments did not constitute victim impact evidence as such evidence is generally understood. Further, even if these statements were considered to be arguing victim impact evidence, such evidence should not be excluded per se because it is relevant to a jury's assessment of the specific harm caused by the crime and determination of the punishment to be imposed. See Payne v. Tennessee, ___ U.S. ___, ___, 111 S.Ct. 2597, 2611, 115 L.Ed.2d 720 (1991). Therefore, Libby's complaint about the admission of the alleged character and victim impact evidence is without merit.