Opinion ID: 2387623
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Admission of Photos

Text: For his final point on appeal, appellant contends that the trial court erred in admitting two photos of the victim. These photos were of the victim's body, at the crime scene, and depicted signs of rigor mortis. This court has stated that the admission and relevancy of photographs is a matter within the sound discretion of the trial court, and the mere fact that photos are inflammatory will not render them inadmissible. Goff v. State, 329 Ark. 513, 521, 953 S.W.2d 38, 43 (1997). Even the most gruesome photos may be admissible if they tend to shed some light on any issue, corroborate testimony, are essential in proving a necessary element of a case, are useful to enable a witness to testify more effectively, or enable the jury to better understand testimony. Id. Other acceptable purposes are to show the condition of the victims' bodies, the probable type or location of the injuries, and the position in which the bodies were discovered. Goff, 329 Ark. at 521-522, 953 S.W.2d at 43. Photos may also be admitted to show the nature, extent, and location of the trauma suffered by the victim. Hill v. State, 325 Ark. 419, 428, 931 S.W.2d 64, 68(1996). The State argued at a pretrial hearing that the pictures were needed to prove that Mrs. Byers was murdered, to establish the circumstances surrounding the murder, to depict the nature of the murder, the viciousness of the attack, the extent of the struggle, and to show where the body was located. The State also noted that it was making an effort to ensure that the photos introduced fairly depicted the scene without unduly prejudicing the jury, and therefore was not introducing twenty-nine other more gruesome and graphic photos. Appellant argues that the pictures were not relevant, and served only to inflame the jury. The trial court found that the photos were not unduly inflammatory. Because the photos could have been helpful to the jury by showing essential elements of the crime, the viciousness of the attack, the nature of the trauma suffered, and enabling the jury to understand testimony, the trial court did not abuse its discretion by allowing the two photos into evidence.