What must a witness do for photographs to be admissible in court?

For photographs to be admissible in court, a witness must verify them as accurate portrayals of relevant facts. This verification process typically involves a witness, often someone with firsthand knowledge of the event or scene depicted, attesting that the photographs accurately represent what they are intended to show. This foundational requirement ensures that the photographs are not misleading or manipulated, maintaining the integrity of the evidence.

Photographs are considered relevant if they can help clarify or establish facts pertinent to the case. The witness must be able to link the photographs to the events in questions, confirming that they have not been altered or misrepresented. Simply identifying them as artistic representations would not meet the standards for admissibility. Similarly, presenting them without any verification or requiring expert analysis for authenticity does not align with the general rules governing photographic evidence in court. The key aspect is the witness's ability to authenticate the image as a true representation of the scene or object it depicts.