Opinion ID: 867372
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Photographs of tattoos and Confederate flag

Text: ¶ 27 Pandeli asserts that exhibits 59, 64, and 65 were irrelevant and prejudicial, and therefore were improperly admitted. These photographs, like the photographs of Iler's body, were admitted to prove the (F)(6) aggravating circumstance. Exhibit 65 depicts the side of Pandeli's van and shows that he used a Confederate flag as a window covering. Exhibit 59 is a close-up photograph of the Confederate flag that shows some blood spatter. Exhibit 64 shows Pandeli standing shirtless, shortly after his arrest. It reveals tattoos on his upper arms and the upperleft side of his chest. The photograph was taken from a distance so the viewer cannot discern what the tattoos depict. ¶ 28 The photographs of the Confederate flag are relevant. Exhibit 59 shows the victim's blood on the flag, and exhibit 65 shows the van in which the murder took place. The photograph of Pandeli is also relevant because it depicts Pandeli's physical condition at the time of the murder and shows no visible injuries or defensive wounds resulting from the crime. Although relevant, the photographs had minimal probative value. Pandeli had already stipulated to the existence of blood on the flag, and the facts that the murder took place in the van and the absence of injuries to Pandeli were not contested. ¶ 29 The photographs, however, are also minimally prejudicial. The Confederate flag photographs had little prejudicial impact because the defense stipulated to the existence of blood on the Confederate flag taken from the rear side window of Pandeli's van. We find it unlikely that the photographs of the flag prejudiced the jury any more than the stipulation. Cf. McGill, 213 Ariz. at 155, ¶ 32, 140 P.3d at 938 (We consider it unlikely that the pictures added much to any sense of shock the jurors experienced from hearing the injuries described.). The photograph of Pandeli was also minimally prejudicial because his tattoos cannot be discerned and the mere presence of tattoos is not shocking or prejudice-inducing. Therefore, although the photographs had little probative value, the court did not abuse its discretion in admitting them. See State v. Cañez, 202 Ariz. 133, 154, ¶ 67, 42 P.3d 564, 585 (2002) (finding no abuse of discretion in admitting evidence that was both minimally probative and minimally prejudicial).