Opinion ID: 1268268
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Admissibility of the Pry-Bar and Hammer into Evidence

Text: Defendant argues that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence a pry-bar and hammer as purported murder weapons because there was insufficient evidence to connect the tools with the victim's death and because their prejudicial effect outweighed their probative value. We observe that the admission of evidence is within the discretion of the trial judge and we will uphold his ruling unless there is a clear abuse of that discretion. State v. Valdez, 83 N.M. 632, 495 P.2d 1079 (Ct. App.), aff'd on other grounds, 83 N.M. 720, 497 P.2d 231, aff'd mem., 83 N.M. 741, 497 P.2d 743, cert. denied, 409 U.S. 1077, 93 S.Ct. 694, 34 L.Ed.2d 666 (1972). Upon review of the record, we do not find that the trial court erred in admitting these two items into evidence, particularly in view of the fact that the judge cautioned that the pry-bar and hammer were being admitted only within the scope of the testimony given about them.