Opinion ID: 1058439
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Photographs at Penalty Phase

Text: Exhibit numbers 47 through 50 and exhibit numbers 56, 60 and 61 are photographs of the victim's body as it was discovered at the crime scene. Exhibit number 47 depicts the wounds to the victim's head, but also movement of the victim's head from right to left. The trial court found this photograph probative to prove the heinous, atrocious, cruel aggravator. Exhibit 49 is the same photograph as exhibit 47. However, exhibit 49 contains two ink markings referencing blood spatter that exhibit 47 lacks. Exhibits number 48 and 50 were admitted because (1) number 48 was a close-up photograph and (2) number 50 was far back showing the other side of the body with no blood on it. Exhibit 56 depicts a pool of blood in the carpet. The trial court found this photograph admissible as it's not gruesome. Exhibits 60 and 61 were admitted to show the duration of the assault demonstrating the various aspects of blood clotting. The court found that there's nothing in these photographs the jury would not have already have seen from earlier photographs. On appeal, the Defendant complains that the admission of these photographs was error in that (1) the photographs were more prejudicial than probative and (2) the photographs were cumulative. Photographs are not necessarily rendered inadmissible because they are cumulative of other evidence or because descriptive words could be used. See Collins v. State, 506 S.W.2d 179, 185 (Tenn.Crim.App.1973). Photographs must be relevant to prove some part of the prosecution's case and must not be admitted solely to inflame the jury and prejudice them against the defendant. Banks, 564 S.W.2d at 951; see Tenn. R. Evid. 403 (relevant evidence may be admitted if its probative value is not substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice). On appeal, the trial court's decision to admit a photographic exhibit is reviewable for abuse of discretion. Banks, 564 S.W.2d at 949. Photographs depicting a victim's injuries have been held admissible to establish torture or serious physical abuse under aggravating circumstance (i)(5). See, e.g., State v. Smith, 893 S.W.2d 908, 924 (Tenn.1994) (photographs depicting the victim's body, including one of the slash wound to the throat, which was undeniably gruesome, were relevant to prove that the killing was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel and were admissible for that purpose); State v. McNish, 727 S.W.2d 490, 494-95 (Tenn.1987) (photographs of the body of the victim who was beaten to death were relevant and admissible to show the heavy, repeated and vicious blows to the victim and to prove that the killing was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel). Although the photographs are not necessarily pleasant to view, the photographs accurately depict the nature and severity of the injuries inflicted upon the victim. This evidence was relevant to the State's proof of the heinous, atrocious, and cruel aggravating circumstance. See, e.g., State v. Morris, 24 S.W.3d 788 (Tenn.2000); State v. Hall, 976 S.W.2d 121, 162 (Tenn.1998); State v. Smith, 893 S.W.2d 908, 924 (Tenn.1994), cert. denied, 516 U.S. 829, 116 S.Ct. 99, 133 L.Ed.2d 53 (1995); State v. Smith, 868 S.W.2d 561, 579 (Tenn.1993), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 960, 115 S.Ct. 417, 130 L.Ed.2d 333 (1994) (citing State v. Payne, 791 S.W.2d 10, 19-20 (Tenn.1990)), judgment aff'd. by, 501 U.S. 808, 111 S.Ct. 2597, 115 L.Ed.2d 720(1991); State v. Miller, 771 S.W.2d 401, 403-404 (Tenn.1989), cert. denied, 497 U.S. 1031, 110 S.Ct. 3292, 111 L.Ed.2d 801 (1990); State v. Porterfield, 746 S.W.2d 441, 449-450 (Tenn.), cert. denied, 486 U.S. 1017, 108 S.Ct. 1756, 100 L.Ed.2d 218 (1988); McNish, 727 S.W.2d at 494-495. Moreover, given the fact that the jury rejected the (i)(5) aggravator, we are unable to conclude that the photographs prejudiced the jury's verdict. The photographs are relevant and are not so unfairly prejudicial as to bar their admission. Accordingly, we cannot conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting these photographs. See Tenn. R. Evid. 403. Defendant is not entitled to relief on this issue.