Opinion ID: 1369544
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Admission of Ms. Frey's pictures

Text: Storey claims ineffectiveness of counsel in failing to object to [a]dmission of Ms. Frey's three year old picture which appealed to passion and prejudice. He claims that the picture was improper victim impact evidence. As a general rule, the trial court has discretion during the punishment phase of trial to admit whatever evidence it deems helpful to the jury in assessing punishment. Storey, 40 S.W.3d at 908 (internal quotations omitted). The photographs of Frey ... serve to illustrate Frey's value to the community and the impact of her death upon her friends and co-workers. In other words, the exhibits help the jury to see the victim as something other than a `faceless stranger.' Id. at 909. Counsel is not deemed ineffective for declining to make a non-meritorious objection. Six, 805 S.W.2d at 167.