Graphic Crime Scene Photos in Yandamuri Trial Cause Stir, Then Recess
By Brad Segall
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- Several jurors in the trial of an Upper Merion man accused of murdering a ten-month-old girl and her grandmother were visibly shaken today when prosecutors showed one of their many crime scene photos.
As testimony continued in the trial of Raghu Yandamuri, a forensics detective described how he found the body of infant Saanvi Venna inside the trash-strewn sauna room at the Marquis Apartments, in King of Prussia.
When prosecutors showed a picture of the child's leg protruding from under a bench, four jurors began openly crying.
The judge called a break, then ruled that prosecutors couldn't show three other pictures to the jury.
That touched off a heated exchange between the judge and prosecutor Kevin Steele, who says they were presenting the evidence as they found it.
"Unfortunately, this is somewhat graphic, but this isn't our doing -- this was the defendant's doing," Steele said outside the courtroom afterward.
Yandamuri continues to represent himself. His "standby" attorney, Steve Heckman, was surprised so many jurors began crying.
He says it's easy when you're being questioned as a potential witness to say such photos won't upset you. It's another thing, he notes, when you're looking right at them.
