Opinion ID: 1355148
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Admission of a Photo of Hunter Holding a Gun

Text: Hunter argues that the district court erred in admitting a photo of him holding a gun. This ruling is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Tompkin v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., 362 F.3d 882, 897 (6th Cir.2004). The court did not abuse its discretion in admitting this photo. The gun in the photo was identical to the gun found in the March 23, 2005, search of Hunter's hotel room. The photo was given to police by Amanda Ward, who testified she had taken the photo near the beginning of 2005, that the gun in the photo was the same gun found in the Microtel on March 23, 2005, and that Hunter possessed the gun in the photo on that night. Thus, the photo tended to establish Hunter's ownership of the gun as well as corroborate Ward's testimony. Because of this, it was highly relevant. Hunter asserts that the admission of the photo was unduly prejudicial because it was menacing (which is debatable), but given the photo's evidentiary value, the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting it. See Fed.R.Evid. 403.