The photo zoomed in and projected onto the wall and seemed to fill the Ventura court.
One of them showed the killer and the rapist showing off his white man. power tattoo.
Another picture was that he was crowded with other gang members.
There is also a picture of him hugging the victim, a student at Santa Monica University who has known each other for years.
Several photos of the accused Justin Merriman were interrupted by the words "convicted" printed.
"Multimedia presentations that have been reserved for salespeople and marketing experts, such as those in the recently concluded Meriman trial, are becoming more and more popular in criminal courts from San Diego to Sacramento.
Under the leadership of a civil lawyer, the prosecutor is playing video tapes and presenting computer slides to maintain the interest of jurors ---and awake--
In the long argument
Lincoln's day-
The Douglas debate is over, "said Ronald Janes, chief deputy district attorney of Ventura County and member of the statewide commission for visual aids.
"When lawyers argue for a few hours, it is almost impossible to attract people's attention.
Lawyers and judges say this is crucial.
In many cases, the ability to communicate information to jurors is as important as evidence and law.
Defense lawyers argue that computer demonstrations give prosecutors an unfair advantage. The high-
Technology tools are expensive, and the cost of scanners, laptops, projectors and sound systems is as high as thousands of dollars.
Public defender offices often cannot afford the equipment, training and staff needed for such introductions.
But with the popularity of technology, defense lawyers may have to invest to keep up with their opponents.
In a recent trial of John Reina, he was charged with extorting money from legal investigator Irene brockwich-
Ability to hire his own defense lawyer-
Both sides are higher. tech.
In the final debate, the chief deputy district. Atty.
Michael Frawley projected a judgment on the wall outlining the word "guilty" in red.
He also recorded cash.
Register the voice when presenting the cheque to the defendant.
Michael Nasatir, a private defense lawyer in Los Angeles, showed photos of letters and faxes and enlarged specific sections for emphasis.
Nasatir said he felt the need to use computer drawings to defend his case so that he could highlight important parts of documents and tapes --
Recording dialogue
"I think this is the wave of the future," he said . ".
"You will see it in every trial with a lot of documents.
"Computerized slide shows are the next step in the evolution of court visual aids.
In the 1970 s, lawyers began making handwritten charts on butcher's paper.
In the next decade, projectors and transparent film made their debut.
Then the lawyer starts making maps and schedules on the computer and prints them out on the poster --size paper.
Civil law firms began using the new technology in criminal courts.
Companies have sprung up to meet growing demand.
* For example, a senior court technology company of a company in Northern California provides a procedure to bring up video clips, documents or photos simply by scanning the barcode into a computer.
Therefore, if a witness appears in court to testify and contradicts the earlier testimony, the lawyer can easily replay the earlier footage.
The company leased its equipment to civilian companies for a one-month trial for $30,000.
However, lawyers say the cost exceeds demand for most criminal trials.
Therefore, lawyers often find ways to present information in a slightly less complex way.
They scan the photos and zoom in.
They create maps that depict animated characters throughout the community.
They list the reasons why the accused should be found guilty or not guilty, and list them one by one in bright, bold colors.
However, some prosecutors have been opposed to the use of any technology, and they prefer to rely on paper charts that jurors can bring them into the review room.
In this way, lawyers say, they do not have to learn how to use these programs, nor do they have to worry about computer failures and technical failures.
"When you're in front of a jury, it's a publicity case, there's a downside," said Ronald Bowles, head of trial support at the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
"If something goes wrong, it's a big mistake.
Even so, judges generally support the technology because it speeds up trials and reduces paper waste.
Ventura County judge Vince O'Neill, who presided over the case of Justin Merriman and John Reina, said that computer presentations could be effective without technical difficulties.
But O'Neal said if the lawyer was too computer
Dependencies and problems arise, "Things tend to come to a standstill.
"During the recent power outage, the court had to connect an extension cord from the emergency power supply to keep the projector and computer running.
Jane's deputy D. A.
The risk is worth it, he said.
"It caters to the way people learn today," he said . ".
"It is absolutely important that we provide information to jurors in the way they are used.
"In Ventura County, the court invested about $200,000 at six highs
This will enable counsel to amplify the evidence during the trial.
County prosecutors have used multimedia programming in the trial of three homicide cases and are currently preparing for the other two cases.
Catherine Clark, an assistant lawyer in charge of technical trial support, said she has been asked by prosecutors since the Meriman trial ended a few weeks ago.
Defense counsel heard the case without using computer equipment.
"Everyone wants to see how the Merriman case is going," Clark said . ".
She said things went well and that jurors convicted Meriman of murder and advised him to be sentenced to death.
"Word of mouth," Clark said . "
"I'm really busy right now.
The Ventura County public defender's office purchased some equipment but still lacked projectors.
Susan Olsen, who oversees felony lawyers, said she expects lawyers in her department to start making computer slides soon.
Bowles said the Los Angeles County district attorney's office spent $40,000 to $50,000 on slide-show computer equipment.
The office also has trial support staff of four assistant lawyers who help lawyers prepare computers
Make posters and visual aids.
* In Riverside County, each court has a TV screen and a document camera, and each deputy district attorney has a laptop.
The district attorney's office also has several cordless mice, so lawyers can play slides as they move around the court. Deputy Dist. Atty.
Jack Lucky says nearly half of his office lawyers are using slides, in part because computers are more troublesome than big posters.
"Whether I have one slide or 100 slide, I go to the court with the same device," said Lucky . ".
"I don't need to re-invent the wheel with every box.