Opinion ID: 1405283
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Gruesome Photos

Text: ¶ 41 Defendant contests the admissibility of crime scene and autopsy photographs as gruesome and cumulative. We defer to the trial judge absent a clear abuse of discretion. See Amaya-Ruiz, 166 Ariz. at 170, 800 P.2d at 1278. ¶ 42 We have already discussed the appropriate analysis to be employed in determining the admissibility of photographs and will not repeat it here. Photos may be placed in evidence for various reasons, such as proving corpus delicti, identifying the victim, showing the nature and location of injuries, helping to determine the degree and severity of the crime, corroborating witnesses, illustrating or explaining testimony, and supporting a theory of how and why the homicide was committed. See State v. Castaneda, 150 Ariz. 382, 391, 724 P.2d 1, 10 (1986). Even when inflammatory, these exhibits may be admitted if the trial judge determines that their probative value outweighs the risk of unfair prejudice. See Spreitz, 190 Ariz. at 141, 945 P.2d at 1272. ¶ 43 While the briefs on appeal are unclear in this regard, we conclude that the defendant properly objected to five photographs that are now before us: numbers 46 (Exhibit # 83), 48 (Exhibit # 85), 69 (Exhibit # 81), 81 (Exhibit # 120), and 84 (Exhibit # 121). Photos 46 and 48 depict the extensive blood found at the apartment, including the victim's bloody footprint in the bathroom. Also visible in one of the photos is a knife on the sink, a black broom handle, bloody jeans, and underwear briefs. The prosecution introduced these photographs during the testimony of a police officer who participated in the investigation. They clearly served to corroborate, explain and illustrate testimony concerning the crime scene. ¶ 44 The remaining three exhibits are autopsy photos showing various injuries to the victim. One depicts two lacerations and deep bruising to her right hip. The state offered it during the medical examiner's testimony to show that the injuries were consistent with the knife found at the scene, and with the conclusion that the victim had been struck. Defendant claims that the photograph was cumulative and that the injuries could have been demonstrated in a less gruesome way. We find that it was probative, relevant, and offered for a proper purpose. ¶ 45 Another autopsy photo, taken after blood was cleaned from the victim's face, was used during the medical examiner's testimony to point out multiple, irregular injuries to the head and neck. It shows extensive bruising, swelling around the eyes, multiple injuries to the neck and mouth, and a laceration exposing the skull. The final photo depicts the wound left by the amputation of the victim's left nipple and slash marks to the other nipple. The defense again objected to the gruesomeness of these photographs. However, they were clearly relevant and their probative value outweighed any prejudicial effect.