Section 54-85e – Photograph of deceased victim shown to jury during opening and closing arguments

May 11, 2021 | Connecticut, Criminal Procedure

A photograph not to exceed eight inches by ten inches solely of a deceased victim prior to the date of the offense for which the defendant is being tried, that is a fair and accurate representation of the victim and is not of itself inflammatory in nature, may be shown to the jury during the opening and closing arguments by the prosecutor.

Conn. Gen. Stat. ยง 54-85e

( P.A. 00-200, S. 4.)

Statute pertains only to the nonevidentiary presentation of an image of a deceased victim and contains no restriction on the admission into evidence of a photograph of a deceased victim; nor does it expressly abrogate or seek to supplant the rules of evidence adopted by the judiciary. 126 CA 239.