241 F.3d 344 (3rd Cir.

2001)

GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS,

V.
NICHOLAS ALBERT, APPELLANT
Nos. 00-1604 and 00-3306

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD

CIRCUIT
Argued December 7, 2000
Filed February 23, 2001

Appeal from the Appellate Division of the District Court of the Virgin
Islands Counsel for Appellee: Iver A. Stridiron Attorney General
Frederick Handleman Solicitor General Maureen Phelan Cormier
(Argued) Assistant Attorney General Department of Justice 48b-50c
Kronpindsens Gade Gers Bldg., 2nd Floor St. Thomas, U.S.V.I. 00802
Counsel for Appellant: Andrew C. Simpson, Esquire (Argued) Bryant,
Barnes & Simpson, P.C. 47 King Street, 2nd Floor Christiansted, VI
00820
Before: Mansmann and Alito, Circuit Judges, and Fullam, District Judge.*
OPINION OF THE COURT
Mansmann, Circuit Judge.

Nicholas Albert appeals from the judgment of sentence entered after his
conviction of first degree felony murder and other related offenses. Albert
argues that he is entitled to a new trial because the trial court abused its
discretion when it admitted a videotape of the crime scene which included
graphic views of the victim.

After viewing the videotape in its entirety, we conclude that the Territorial
Court properly ruled that the probative value of the crime scene videotape
outweighed its prejudicial impact. Albert's defense to the first degree murder
charge was that he was not involved in the murder. The videotaped evidence is

to the contrary. Despite its gruesome depictions, its admission was not an abuse
of discretion. In addition, assuming the videotape was cumulative of crime
scene photos also admitted into evidence, given the other evidence of Albert's
guilt, we find that its admission was harmless error. We will, therefore, affirm.
I.
3

On November 24, 1995, Barbara Cromwell arrived at her family's vacation

condominium on St. Croix. Cromwell was president of the Board of Directors
of the condominium complex and had come to St. Croix to start negotiations
with an insurance company and local contractors to reconstruct the premises
after extensive damage caused by a hurricane. John Reichert, the owner of
another unit and a friend of Cromwell's, also traveled to St. Croix to participate
in the discussions.

On November 27, Reichert and Cromwell saw a "little guy" on the premises of
the complex looking through an open door of Cromwell's unit and lurking
around the condominium property. Reichert told the young man to leave. A
little later, Reichert and Cromwell discovered three young men inside one of
the condominium units and called the police. One young man ran away. The
second, identified as the defendant, 15-year old Nicholas Albert, picked up a
rock and threatened Reichert. The third man, later identified as Johnny Kidd,
the "little guy" previously sighted on the property, left the area and walked
down to the beach followed by Albert.

Reichert and Cromwell spent the evening of November 28 at Cromwell's

condo, reviewing insurance papers. Reichert left about 10 p.m. Shortly
thereafter, Kidd and Albert crept into Cromwell's second-story unit. The pair
searched the apartment and took five to six hundred dollars from Cromwell's
purse. They proceeded to rifle through dressers, a suitcase and a storeroom.

Kidd and Albert then moved into the bedroom where Cromwell was sleeping.
Kidd took a lighter and started flashing it over Cromwell's face. She woke up
screaming. What happened next was the source of differing testimony at trial.
According to Albert, Kidd determined that Cromwell should be tied up. Albert
testified that he picked up a pair of white shoes, took the shoelaces out and he
and Kidd each tied one of her hands to the bed. After Cromwell was tied, Albert
went through the dressers in the bedrooms. He then left the room and found a
set of keys. He went back into the room and asked Cromwell to point out which
key opened the outside gate. Albert left to unlock the gate, returned and
removed a television, VCR and stereo from the unit. He testified that Kidd then

walked out of the bedroom and said "she dead, you know." Albert saw blood on
the wall, left the condominium and loaded Cromwell's car with the fruits of the
robbery.
7

The government's version of events differs. The prosecution theorized that

when Cromwell woke up and screamed, one of the intruders slashed at her with
a knife while the other blocked her escape by hitting her with a blunt object.
Under the government's scenario, while Cromwell attempted to fight off her
attackers, she was overcome by a knife stab to her throat, cutting the jugular
vein and severing her windpipe back to the neck bone.1 According to the
government, it was after Cromwell's death that Kidd and Albert tied her to the
bed, jammed a washcloth into her mouth, taped her face, spread her legs open
to expose her genitalia and tossed a pornographic video onto the bed,
attempting to stage a sex crime which could deflect suspicion away from them.

An anonymous tip led to the arrest of Kidd and Albert. Albert turned himself in
to the police, admitted committing the burglary with Kidd, but blamed the
murder solely on Kidd. When arrested, Kidd admitted, "I did it. I was the one. I
cut her." He did not name an accomplice. 2

Albert was charged with First Degree (premeditated) Murder, First Degree
(felony) Murder, Burglary, Burglary with Intent to Commit Assault, Conspiracy
to Commit Burglary, Kidnaping and Conspiracy to Commit Kidnaping. At trial,
the government, over objection by the defense, introduced a videotape of the
crime scene which included a detailed look at Cromwell's partially naked body
tied to the bed with the neck wound revealed. Albert was found guilty on all
charges except premeditated murder.

10

On December 19, 1996, the fifteen-year old Albert was sentenced to life
imprisonment without possibility of probation or parole on the felony murder
count, plus 50 years to be served consecutively on the remaining counts. A
notice of appeal to the Appellate Division of the United States District Court of
the Virgin Islands was filed. On the issue relevant here, the Appellate Division
found that Albert did not properly object to the admission of the videotape of
the crime scene; therefore, the Territorial Court did not abuse its discretion in
allowing it to be played to the jury.

11

Albert filed a notice of appeal to our court on March 2, 2000, beyond the 10day limit set forth in Fed. R. App. P. 4(b). Defense counsel, a self-admitted
novice in criminal matters, mistakenly believed and informed Albert that the
appeal from the Appellate Division judgment had to be filed within 30, not 10,

days. When Albert was notified that the appeal faced possible dismissal due to
the jurisdictional defect, he filed a motion for an extension of time to file the
appeal on the grounds of excusable neglect. The District Court of the Virgin
Islands granted the motion.
12

The government filed an appeal from the award of the time extension arguing
that ignorance of the rules does not constitute excusable neglect. At oral
argument, however, the government conceded that caselaw could be interpreted
to allow the present appeal to proceed. The government, therefore, abandoned
its jurisdictional challenge.

13

We agree that authority exists for the viability of this appeal. See Pioneer Inv.
Servs. Corp. v. Brunswick Assocs. Ltd. P'ship, 507 U.S. 380, 391-92 (1993)
(interpreting analogous Bankruptcy Rule); United States v. Clark, 51 F.3d 42,
44 (5th Cir. 1995); United States v. Hooper, 9 F.3d 257, 259 (2d Cir. 1993). But
see Amatangelo v. Borough of Donora, 212 F.3d 776, 779 (3d Cir. 2000)
(discussion of FRAP 4(a)(5)(A)).

14

Our jurisdiction rests upon 28 U.S.C. 1291.

II.

15

The appeal presents a singular issue: did the trial court err in allowing a
videotape of the crime scene into evidence because its probative worth was
outweighed by its prejudicial impact? We review this ruling under an abuse of
discretion standard, United States v. Balter, 91 F.3d 427, 442 (3d Cir. 1996),
and will affirm the trial court's determination unless it acted arbitrarily or
irrationally. United States v. Universal Rehabilitation Servs., 205 F.3d 657, 669
(3d Cir. 2000).3 "`[I]f judicial restraint is ever desirable, it is when a Rule 403
analysis of a trial court is reviewed by an appellate tribunal.'" United States v.
Scarfo, 850 F.2d 1015, 1019 (3d Cir. 1989) (quoting United States v. Long, 574
F.2d 761, 767 (3d Cir. 1978)).

16

After Cromwell's body was discovered, a forensic investigator took

photographs, videotaped the scene and collected evidence. The government
sought admission of the videotape into evidence. Defense counsel filed a
motion in limine to preclude its admission on the grounds that it was narrated
and because its prejudicial nature outweighed its usefulness. In defense
counsel's words:

17

... Some of the shots are close ups of the neck area, showing the cut. It's awful.

It's not necessary. A lot of what the video tends to portray is an issue. I can only
surmise that the Government is using the video to instill horror, to instill
punishment, the element of punishment. They have other ways of presenting
the scene to a lay jury. It's my understanding that the Government has two
dozen photographs, still photographs, which show the items that they claim are
important.
18

***

19

So it's not just unduly prejudicial, its cumulative. Indeed, for us to sit and watch
the video and then turn around and have to watch the still photos is a waste of
time. You have a waste of time element.

20

The government, for its part, did not present a detailed argument for the
videotape's admission. Its position was that the tape "showed the apartment and
the condition of the apartment, the condition of the victim and how she was
found, the murder weapon and the items of that nature; thus, the tape was
relevant to contrast Albert's claim that he did not know what Kidd was doing in
the bedroom." The government also submitted that the videotape would assist
the jury in understanding the facts of the case, particularly, in that it supported
the portion of Albert's confession consistent with the government's version of
the details of the crime. The jury could see, by comparing what they had seen
on the videotape to what Albert told the officer, that Albert participated in
Cromwell's murder.

21

The court viewed the videotape and made the following ruling:

22

THE COURT: Having reviewed the video, the Court finds that relevant to the
issues of trial, in that it depicts the crime scene, shows the location of various
items of evidence, some of which have been testified to in court already.

23

It also shows the layout of the crime scene, the entrance, as well as the different
rooms and their particular positioning. And, obviously, the victim, and the
injuries, and the resulting injuries, in any event, from the crime.

24

And, therefore, the only issue before the Court is the extent of any prejudice to
the defendant or confusion of the issues, et cetera.

25

Having viewed the video, the Court also finds that the evidence is probative for
the same reasons mentioned before.

26

Although the Court finds the video somewhat long, it's approximately 45
minutes. At this stage, the Court does not conclude that it's a waste of time, or
amounts to a needless presentation of cumulative evidence, or that it would
mislead the Jury or confuse the issues.

27

The Court noticed that the video shows graphically the injuries to the victim's
neck. Some to her arms and some to the legs.

28

The Court, however, does not find the evidence to be so inflammatory as to

amount to prejudice, which substantially outweighs the probative value.

29

The Court will, therefore, permit the introduction of the video into evidence.

30

***

31

[T]he Court would concur with defense counsel, however, that there are
opinioned narration throughout this video. And would bar that portion of the
video from being displayed to the Jury.

32

As the excerpt above demonstrates, the trial judge found the videotape was
relevant to and probative of the issues at trial and not so inflammatory that its
evidentiary value was dwarfed by its graphic depictions. The judge agreed with
defense counsel, however, that the "opinionated" narration throughout should
be barred from the jury. Accordingly, a version of the videotaped crime scene,
narrated by the police officer who photographed the scene, was shown to the
jury without the audio. Although the videotape was 45 minutes long, the jury
saw a shortened version. During its presentation, the government fastforwarded the tape a number of times, presumably to avoid irrelevant or
redundant evidence.

33

In its closing argument, the government called upon the jury to examine the
videotape to support its view that Albert's participation conformed to the
government's theory of the case. The government argued that the videotape
depicting Cromwell's defensive wounds evidenced that she put up a fight before
she was tied to the bed with the shoelaces. The government then opined that it
would have taken more than the diminutive Kidd to subdue Cromwell. Also
emphasized was the pristine condition of the shoelaces used to tie Cromwell's
wrists to the bed. The government posed the question -- how could the
shoelaces used to tie Cromwell be free of blood if the tying occurred before the
stabbing as Albert contended?

34

While deliberating, the jurors asked to see the videotape again. The trial court
allowed the second viewing, but instructed the jurors as follows:

35

As you will recall, however, the only portion of the video, that has been
admitted into evidence -- and, therefore, the only portion that you are permitted
to consider, as evidence -- is merely what's seen on the video as opposed to the
audio and what's said on it. So, we have prepared the television for you. And it
would allow you to look at it. But it would not allow you to see the video or to - to hear, rather, any of the audio or increase the volume in any way.

36

The record indicates that the volume buttons were taped over to preclude
producing an audio portion of the videotape. The defense did not object to
either the jurors' request to view the video or the court's precautions concerning
the audio portion of the tape.4

37

We have examined the entire 45-minutes of the videotape and there is no

question that it is gruesome. The concentration on Cromwell's lower body,
while disconcerting, was not unduly protracted and was crucial to show the
defensive wounds on Cromwell's body. The videotape was then clearly relevant
to demonstrate the government's theory that one small man could not have
subdued a struggling Cromwell and have inflicted the massive injuries upon her
unassisted. The videotape also bolsters the government's theory that Cromwell
was tied to the bed with the shoelaces after the murder. While the area of the
bed surrounding Cromwell's body was blood-soaked, the shoelaces were
surprisingly clean. If Cromwell had been tied to the bed prior to the murder, it
is more than probable that the laces would have been splattered with blood.
Albert's admission that he took the shoelaces out of the shoes and helped Kidd
tie Cromwell, combined with the condition of the shoelaces, is significant
evidence of his participation in the murder. Graphic though it may be, the
admission of the videotape was significantly probative. The trial court's
decision to allow the jury to view it cannot be considered arbitrary or irrational.

38

We next comment on whether the cumulative nature of the videotape rendered

its admission unnecessary. There were pictures taken at the crime scene which
also depicted the condition of the bedroom, the body, and the shoelaces. Even
if we were to determine that the pictures rendered the videotape cumulative
and, therefore, diminished in probative worth, we would not grant a new trial.
The error which may have been caused by the admission of the videotape was
harmless given the other evidence of Albert's guilt, established primarily
through his own testimony.

39

For these reasons, we will affirm the Judgment in a Criminal Case entered by
the District Court.

NOTES:
*

The Honorable John P. Fullam of the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Philadelphia, sitting by designation.

The autopsy performed revealed that Cromwell sustained 12 stab wounds,

incise wounds, multiple abrasions due to blunt force, and contusions to the face,
torso, legs and thighs. The pathologist testified that Cromwell was alive when
the wounds were inflicted and that the cause of death was "massive bleeding or
hemorrhage shock due to multiple wounds and due to incise wounds of the
neck."

Kidd was separately tried for the murder of Barbara Cromwell. He was
convicted of three counts of burglary and murder, including premeditated first
degree murder, and kidnaping.

We emphasize that our review focuses on the trial court's Rule 403 balancing
determination as if not previously heard by the Appellate Division. See Semper
v. Santos, 845 F.2d 1233, 1235 (3d Cir. 1998) (second appellate tribunal shall
review territorial court's determination using same standard of review applied
by Appellate Division); see also Government of Virgin Islands v. Grant, 775
F.2d 508, 510 n.1 (3d Cir. 1985) (propriety of evidentiary ruling by territorial
court, affirmed by Appellate Division, decided under Federal Rules of Evidence
and reviewed for abuse of discretion).

The concurring opinion strongly suggests that the court's admonition

concerning the audio portion of the videotape went unheeded. We are unwilling
to presume juror misconduct in the absence of any evidence of same. In any
event, Albert does not assert in his brief that the trial court erred by failing to
take additional steps to prevent the jury from listening to the audio track of the
videotape.
Fullam, J., concurring:

40

I cannot join the opinion of the majority because I believe it was clear error for
the trial judge to admit the gruesome videotape of the crime scene, for several
reasons. In the first place, the entire tape was received in evidence and played
for the jury. The tape runs approximately 45 minutes in length, and has an

emotional impact almost equivalent to rendering the viewer a participant in the

crime itself. For approximately 12 to 15 minutes, the camera is focused
exclusively upon the victim's lower genitalia -- for no conceivable reason other
than to inflame the jury. Whatever probative value the videotape provided -the location of the wounds, the distribution of the gore -- was already provided
by the (decidedly less inflammatory) still photographs in evidence, and, in any
event, could readily have been presented by a redacted version of the tape.
41

Finally, everyone agreed at the time, and still agrees, that the audio
commentary on the tape (the cameraman's views and opinions of what was
being photographed) was inadmissible. But all that was done to exclude that
inadmissible evidence was to turn down the volume on the VCR when the tape
was played for the jury, and, allegedly, to place "tape" over the volume control.
And the entire tape and a VCR were present in the jury room throughout
deliberations, and there was no assurance that the jury did not turn up the
volume and listen to the audio portion of the tape. Indeed, common experience
suggests that that may very well have happened.

42

In my view, to hold that admitting this evidence was not an abuse of the trial
judge's discretion is equivalent to ruling that admitting unduly inflammatory
evidence can never be cause for reversal; if this evidence was not unduly
inflammatory, then nothing is. The majority says the trial court's ruling "cannot
be considered arbitrary or irrational"; I do not believe that is the proper test to
be applied. Trial judges can commit reversible error without acting irrationally.

43

Although I disagree with the views expressed in the majority opinion, I

nevertheless join in the judgment affirming the conviction, because the
defendant's detailed confession -- the admissibility of which is not challenged
on appeal -- admits his involvement in planning and carrying out the burglary,
and admits that his companion (Johnny Kidd) murdered the victim while the
burglary was in progress. In conformity with the defendant's confession, he was
acquitted of premeditated murder, but convicted of felony murder and burglary.
Indeed, defense counsel's closing argument at trial stressed the truthfulness of
defendant's confession. In these circumstances, I am unable to say that the error
in admitting the videotape was sufficiently prejudicial to warrant a new trial, or
that a retrial would serve any useful purpose. I therefore concur in the result.