State v. Denton
Wisconsin Court of Appeals
768 N.W.2d 250 (Wis. App. 2009)
Jeremy Denton (defendant) allegedly tried to force jogger Judy Giovannoni into his car at gunpoint before she flagged down a passing driver, Dennis Hohisel, and escaped. At Denton's trial for attempted kidnapping and related charges, the prosecution had a police officer with no personal knowledge of the crime present a computer-generated animation of the incident, built from police reports and statements by Giovannoni, Hohisel, and another passenger, rather than illustrating any single witness's testimony. The trial court allowed the animation over Denton's objection, and the jury convicted him.
Whether computer-generated animation may be admitted as demonstrative evidence for a purpose other than clarifying a specific witness's testimony.