People v. Coleates

This is a murder case in which the victim’s death was caused by multiple stab wounds. The defendant seeks discovery of photographs, in the possession of the prosecution, of the scene and the corpse.

The defendant must demonstrate that discovery of the property is material to the preparation of the defense and that the request is reasonable. In a prior manslaughter case arising out of a motor vehicle accident, this court denied discovery of photographs of the scene. In that case, there were other photographs and other evidence to enable the defendant *615to prepare his defense so that the element…