Commonwealth v. Serge
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| Commonwealth v. Serge | |
| Court | |
|---|---|
| Citation | |
| Date decided | |
Facts
Serge shot his wife and then claimed self-defense. The Commonwealth was allowed to admit computer-generated animation (CGA) video of the crime scene based on forensics evidence.
Issues
Is CGA admissible evidence?
Arguments
CGA has some probative value, but may cause unfair prejudice (i.e., overly persuasive because it seems so objective/realistic, has capacity to mislead jury)
Holding
Court allowed CGA but relied on jury instructions to limit prejudice.
Comments
Ways to minimize unfair prejudice:
- Limiting instructions
- Redaction, using black&white photos/cropping,
- Voir dire
- Stipulations
