Opinion ID: 1115988
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: did the trial court err in admitting a green knife as evidence of the murder weapon?

Text: First, a trial judge enjoys a considerable amount of discretion as to the relevancy and admissibility of evidence. Unless this judicial discretion is so abused as to be prejudicial to the accused, we will not reverse his ruling. Page v. State, 295 So.2d 279 (Miss. 1974); Shearer v. State, 423 So.2d 824, 826 (Miss. 1983). Graves' objection to the admissibility of the knife is based upon the fact that one of the witnesses did not remember the knife having a leather strap on it and that it may not be the same knife that he found at the scene. This objection was overruled. We find that the knife is admissible, and the cases cited by appellant to be unpersuasive for the following reasons: Witness Coleman testified that Graves cut him with the knife in question; Witness Miller stated that he found the knife in question at the scene of the stabbing; Witness McDonald established the chain of custody; and Witness White, who arrived at the scene immediately prior to the stabbing, and saw someone throw the knife away, stated that the knife was like a dagger with a green handle on it. That fits the description of the knife in evidence. For the reasons stated above, this assignment of error is without merit.