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Guest column: The last insult

Posted at 1:04 pm March 23, 2015
By Oak Ridge Today Guest Columns Leave a Comment

By Joan Berry and District Attorney General Dave Clark

The law in Tennessee has recently changed in a way that insults the memory of murder victims. Not a single photo of a victim prior to their murder is allowed to be shown during their killer’s trial. This problem needs to be solved, and voters can help.

Sadly, the gruesome photos of a corpse are the only presence homicide victims are granted during a trial. The defendant is allowed to be present and to be “cleaned up” and “dressed up” for the jury; but no picture of the victim can be presented.

For decades, it was a common practice for prosecutors to introduce into evidence a reasonable likeness of the victim prior to their murder in addition to crime scene photos. However, due to recent high-court rulings, trial judges now do not allow the practice for fear of having a verdict overturned. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Guest Columns, Opinion, Police and Fire Tagged With: Anderson County District Attorney General, crime scene photos, Dave Clark, evidence, homicide victims, HOPE for Victims, Joan Berry, Johnia Berry, murder trials, murder victims, photos, Tennessee, Tennessee Voices for Victims, trial, Victim Life Photo Bill, Victims Bill of Rights

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