State v. Woolridge

Foth, C.J.:

The defendant was convicted of aggravated escape from the Shawnee County jail. The sole issue on appeal is whether the trial court erred by allowing the prosecution to show a video tape of his capture.

A Topeka station, WIBW-TV, filmed the capture and presented an edited version on its evening news. Following normal station practice, the original film was destroyed but the edited tape was kept as required by Federal Communication Commission regulations. The tape which the jury saw was a black and white copy of the edited color film. The defendant objected to the showing of the copy…