Computer Animation Allowed In Pa Courtrooms
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that prosecutors can use computer animation as evidence in murder trials as long as it is both relevant and authentic. Pennsylvania now becomes one of several states to allow the new technology, but the opinion, written by Justice Sandra Schultz Newman, emphasized that judges must use their own discretion in determining whether the benefit to the prosecution’s case is outweighed by possible unfair harm to the defendant.
However, in the case in question, the appeal of a Scranton man serving life in prison for the murder of his wife, the court ruled that the animation used was accurate in depicting the prosecution’s theory of how the murder occurred.
The cost of the animation was also a concern for some members of the court; one concurring opinion thought the burden for taxpayers might be excessive, and that additional costs might be required to fund poor defendants’ response to animation evidence. However, the technology involved to create the animation is becoming increasingly affordable.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Associated Press (04/27/06); Scolforo, Mark .
