Opinion ID: 853246
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Similar Gun Evidence

Text: The defendant contends that the trial court erred in allowing the State to show and demonstrate a 7.62 assault rifle [3] despite the fact that no weapon was found related to the victim's fatal gunshot wound. The State offered the rifle as a demonstrative exhibit during expert testimony from a tool marks and firearm examiner. Demonstrative evidence is evidence offered for purposes of illustration and clarification. Wise v. State, 719 N.E.2d 1192, 1196 (Ind.1999). Demonstrative evidence may be admissible if it sufficiently explains or illustrates relevant testimony as to be a potential help to the trier of fact. Id. The admissibility of demonstrative evidence must also meet the requirements of Rule 403, which balances probative value against prejudicial effect. Id. Trial courts are given wide latitude in weighing probative value against the danger of unfair prejudice, and we review that determination for abuse of discretion. Houston v. State, 730 N.E.2d 1247, 1251 (Ind.2000). Emphasizing that the murder weapon was not found and that the defendant claimed that the shooting was accidental, the State argues that this demonstrative evidence was important so that the jury could view a weapon similar to the one used in the killing and be told about how such a weapon works in order to determine whether [the defendant] knowingly killed [the victim]. Br. of Appellee at 9. We agree that the exhibit has significant probative value on the issue of accident. The potential danger that this exhibit could mislead the jury is low, particularly when considering that the court admonished the jury, There was no weapon found in this case. The weapon that m[a]y be displayed is a demonstrative exhibit that is going to be used by the State to demonstrate or show you what a similar type weapon could or should look like. Record at 416. The probative value of the exhibit on the issue of accident is sufficient to support the trial court's decision to admit the evidence, especially in light of the admonishment given. [4] We decline to find that the trial court abused its discretion in admitting the evidence. [5]