Opinion ID: 2123466
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: issues

Text: Three photographs of the nude body of the victim were admitted into evidence over defendant's objections. On appeal, he asserts that the photographs were inadmissible because Indianapolis Police Detective Campbell, through whom they were introduced, was not present when they were taken. Research reveals no Indiana case directly on point. The absence of authority in support of defendant's contention, however, may well suggest that it is so lacking in logic as not to have been previously urged. Courts in other jurisdictions have held that it is generally not necessary for a verifying witness to have been present at time the photograph was taken. Strickland v. Davis, (1930) 221 Ala. 247, 128 So. 233; Higgins v. Arizona Savings and Loan Association, (1961) 90 Ariz. 55, 365 P.2d 476; Cagle Poultry and Egg Company v. Busick, (1964) 110 Ga. App. 551, 139 S.E.2d 461; Richardson v. Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad Company, (Tex.Civ.App. 1947) 205 S.W.2d 819. See, McCormick on Evidence § 214 at 531 (2d Ed. 1972). The Illinois Court of Appeals has said, The Witness need not be the photographer, nor need he know anything of the time or condition of the taking, but he must have personal knowledge of the scene or object in question and testify that it is correctly portrayed by the photograph. Kooyumjian v. Stevens, (1956) 10 Ill. App.2d 378, 135 N.E.2d 146, 151. Defendant has argued that this is bad law, as it opens the door to tampering, misconception, and inaccuracy,   . We do not agree. Photographs, like any other evidence, depend for their admissibility into evidence, upon relevance and competence. Usually the relevance of a photographic exhibit is self-portraying. Its competence must depend upon a proper identification as an accurate representation of that which it purports to portray. The verity of the identification depends upon the knowledge of the witness making the identification. If the witness has first hand information of the scene portrayed, it is immaterial that he came by his knowledge at a time differing from that at which it was photographically recorded. If his knowledge is insufficient for such purpose or is not subject to cross-examination, he is not competent to make the identification. Otherwise he is. After having been admitted, photographic exhibits continue to rest upon the verity of the identification, and the weight and credibility of the identifying witness is a matter for jury assessment.