Opinion ID: 453299
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Viewing of Vessel

Text: 19 Appellant Salcedo claims that the district court committed reversible error by declining to order the jury to view the MAR AZUL. A decision regarding jury viewing is within the trial court's sound discretion and can be grounds for reversal only if that discretion is abused. United States v. Bryant, 563 F.2d 1227, 1230 (5th Cir.1977), cert. denied, 435 U.S. 972, 98 S.Ct. 1616, 56 L.Ed.2d 65 (1978). We find the district court's decision to be well within its discretion, especially since appellants were afforded, but declined, the court's invitation to offer into evidence a defense-produced video tape of the exterior and interior of the vessel.