Opinion ID: 2301860
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Use of Photographs in Mother's Testimony

Text: Mother, during her testimony, was shown 15 of the photographs of victim's injuries. From these photographs, which were not republished to the jury, mother indicated which of victim's injuries were not present before April 6, 2008, the day of the fatal beating. Appellant argues mother lacked personal knowledge to authenticate the photographs. Appellant notes mother was not an expert and could not distinguish between fresh and preexisting injuries, and mother already testified as to those preexisting injuries of which she had personal knowledge. The Commonwealth alleges these photographs were useful in allowing mother to distinguish between victim's preexisting injuries and those that resulted from appellant's assault on April 6, 2008. The Commonwealth contends appellant failed to develop his claim there was no foundation for this use of the photographs. The trial court determined the Commonwealth laid a proper foundation for these pictures and found they allowed the witness to differentiate victim's preexisting injuries. Appellant essentially argues the Commonwealth failed to establish a foundation for mother's testimony regarding the photographs. Here, the photographs were used to show which of victim's injuries predated the day she was fatally injured. Differentiating the injuries victim suffered the day of the murder was relevant to appellant's intent. Appellant's argument that these photographs showed he had beat up victim on prior occasions is misplaced, as the photographs were only used to show which injuries victim incurred on the day of the murder. Mother had personal knowledge of which of victim's injuries predated the date of the murder, as she lived with victim, and she did not have to be an expert to testify as to which injuries she personally knew of. Accordingly, appellant cannot show the trial court abused its discretion in permitting mother to review these photographs.