Opinion ID: 2374146
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Did the Court Err in Admitting Altered Pictures of Appellant Holding a Weapon?

Text: The police recovered three photographs of appellant from the blue canvas bag referred to in the prior issue. The pictures showed appellant wearing a shirt reading Sugarbear, a nickname by which appellant was known, and holding various weapons. In the first picture appellant had a gun dissimilar to the one used in the robbery; the court directed that the gun be covered over. The second photograph showed appellant holding the prior gun and one similar to the one used in the robbery; the court had the first gun covered over. The third picture had appellant holding a firearm similar to that used in the robbery; this photograph remained unexcised. Appellant simply contends that the photographs served no purpose other than to inflame the jury. It is argued that the pictures were inflammatory and prejudicial. In determining the admissibility of such evidence a trial judge should first determine whether the photographs are inflammatory; if they are found not to be the admissibility of the pictures is to be governed by the normal considerations of relevancy. If the trial judge finds that the proffered pictures are of an inflammatory nature, the inquiry must then proceed to determining whether their evidentiary value outweighs the likelihood that they might prejudice the jury. Commonwealth v. Wade, 480 Pa. 160, 171, 389 A.2d 560, 565-566, (1978) (Citations omitted). First we must comment upon the court's excising portions of the photographs. Such was not only permissible but was commendable as the court removed any depiction which would unfairly affect the jury. See Commonwealth v. Brueckner, 458 Pa. 39, 45, 326 A.2d 403, 406 (1974); and Commonwealth v. Hoss, 445 Pa. 98, 115, 283 A.2d 58 (1971); Commonwealth v. Collins, 440 Pa. 368, 371, 269 A.2d 882 (1970). Inflammatory evidence may be defined as that evidence which tends to inflame the minds of the jurors. Commonwealth v. Chacko, 480 Pa. 504, 506, 391 A.2d 999, 1001 (1978); Commonwealth v. Millard, 273 Pa.Superior Ct. 523, 533, 417 A.2d 1171, 1177 (1979). The record here shows no undue prejudice against appellant nor any inflammation of passions against him as a result of the photographs. Therefore, we find no abuse of the trial court's discretion. Moreover, contrary to appellant's claim, the pictures were relevant. The blue canvas bag contained certain items identified as belonging to Sugarbear as well as items which could tend to establish that appellant was responsible for the robbery. The pictures of him wearing a shirt which read Sugarbear clearly suggests he owned the blue convas bag and was involved in the robbery. Compare, Commonwealth v. Gore, 262 Pa.Superior Ct. 540, 556, 396 A.2d 1302, 1309 (1978). And finally, as we held in part IV above, the fact that appellant had a weapon similar to the one used in the robbery is clearly relevant.