Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. James FRISCO
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1982-03-02
Citations: 411 So. 2d 37
Docket Number: No. 81-KA-1525
Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. James FRISCO.
Judges: CALOGERO, J., concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 411
Pages: 37–42

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana v. James FRISCO.
No. 81-KA-1525.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
March 2, 1982.
William J. Guste, Jr., Atty. Gen., Barbara Rutledge, Asst. Atty. Gen., Harry F. Con-nick, Dist. Atty., Louise S. Korns, Richard Petre, Asst. Dist. Attys., for plaintiff-appel-lee.
Dwight Doskey, and Numa Bertel, of Orleans Indigent Defender Program, New Orleans, for defendant-appellant.

Opinion:
WATSON, Justice.
Defendant, James Frisco, was charged with armed robbery of Andrew Washington in violation of LSA-R.S. 14Í64. A motion to suppress the victim's pretrial identification was denied. Evidence of an uncoun-seled pretrial lineup identification was introduced at trial. Defendant was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to fifty years imprisonment.
The only issue on appeal is whether trial evidence of the uncounseled lineup identification constitutes harmless error.
FACTS
On January 26, 1981, at approximately 1:00 P.M., Andrew Washington, a driver of a Purolator Armored Car, was returning to the car with bags of cash and checks from a bank in the Lake Forest Plaza shopping center. An unknown man thrust a gun into his side and said: "Give it up." The assailant then "snatched the bag", shoved Washington and fired the gun at his face. (Tr. 28) Washington was struck in the left ear but not seriously injured. Washington chased the perpetrator with his own weapon and fired it, accidentally hitting a bystander. He could not catch the assailant.
A few days later, on February 2, 1981, Washington was shown six photographs of different people and picked out a photograph of Frisco. Although almost certain that this was the perpetrator, Washington said he would have to see him in person to be absolutely sure.
Frisco was arrested on February 3, 1981. Counsel was appointed prior to the preliminary examination on February 9, 1981. Frisco subsequently retained attorney Jay Zainey. When a physical lineup was conducted on February 19, Frisco did not have an attorney present.
The record does not reflect whether Frisco had an attorney when the lineup was conducted. Frisco said he did not know "whether they [his family] had hired you [Zainey]" at the time. (Motion to Suppress, p. 13) Frisco testified that he did request Zainey's presence at the lineup. Ronald Richards, the detective supervising the lineup, did not recall whether defendant told him he had an attorney.
At the hearing on the motion to suppress, Washington said he was not given any instructions or suggestions by the police prior to the lineup. Washington said he and defendant were "chest to chest" and "face to face" for thirty to sixty seconds (Motion to Suppress, p. 6). He described defendant's light beige suit, low hair style and narrow face. He did not recall whether or not defendant had a moustache. However, Washington was positive in his identification, testifying:
"Because he was so close to me, I will never forget his face, if you call me to testify a year from now I won't forget anybody who tried to take my life, man." (Motion to Suppress, p. 9)
At trial Washington gave a detailed description of his assailant's color, height, weight, build, narrow face, light beige three piece suit, brown tie, low hairstyle, medium to heavy eyebrows and mustache. Washington pointed out the defendant in the courtroom and said there was no doubt in his mind about the identification. The State then asked Washington about the photographic and physical lineups. Washington stated that he was not completely sure about the picture selection because the man in the picture had a much heavier mustache. He was certain about his choice in the physical lineup and said no one suggested his selection or even talked to him at the physical lineup. Washington gestured toward the defendant as the man he had identified. Washington then testified that he could identify the man who robbed him solely from his recollection of the day he was robbed and did so.
Defendant attempted to establish an alibi defense. Ms. Adrian Williams, his neighbor, testified that Frisco spent almost the entire morning and afternoon of January 26 watching soap operas at her house. He was not wearing a suit and left only to pick up some diapers about 10:30 or 11:00 A.M. He was gone an hour or an hour and a half. She remembered that day because her mother had called about the robbery while James Frisco was there. The call came around 1:00 or 1:30 P.M., either during "One Life to Live" or "General Hospital". Both programs are on Channel 8. Frisco had missed work that day, which was a Monday or a Tuesday. When her mother called, Mrs. Williams already knew about the robbery from the T.V. news.
Frisco testified that he missed work the day of the robbery because his alarm clock malfunctioned. While watching the soap operas with Ms. Williams, he saw a news break or bulletin about a Purolator Armored Car guard being wounded in an armed robbery.
Jim Kemp, the news director of Channel 8, testified in rebuttal that the station did not have a news bulletin or flash about the robbery on the afternoon it occurred.
Trial was held on March 23, 1981, just over a month after the physical lineup.
LAW
A defendant has the right to have counsel present at a physical lineup after adversary judicial proceedings are initiated. Kirby v. Illinois, 406 U.S. 682, 92 S.Ct. 1877, 32 L.Ed.2d 411 (1972); Art. 1, § 13, La. Const, of 1974. A preliminary examination is an "adversary judicial criminal proceeding". Moore v. Illinois, 434 U.S. 220, 98 S.Ct. 458, 54 L.Ed.2d 424 (1977); LSA-C. Cr.P. art. 293; State v. Friddle, 396 So.2d 1242 (La., 1981). After the right to counsel attaches, trial evidence of an uncounseled pretrial lineup identification can constitute harmless error. Chapman v. California, 386 U.S. 18, 87 S.Ct. 824, 17 L.Ed.2d 705 (1967); Moore, supra. An error is harmless if there is little likelihood that it would have changed the result. It must be clear beyond a reasonable doubt that the constitutional error did not contribute to the conviction. Chapman, supra; State v. Gibson, 391 So.2d 421 (La., 1980). When the courtroom identification is reliable and based on an independent source, it is unlikely that the pretrial identification affected the jury's verdict, and the error is harmless. U.S. ex rel. Moore v. People of State of Ill., 577 F.2d 411 (1978).
A courtroom identification with an independent origin is purged of its primary taint. United States v. Wade, 388 U.S. 218, 87 S.Ct. 1926, 18 L.Ed.2d 1149 (1967). Factors which can establish an independent basis for the identification include: the circumstances existing when the witness saw the criminal; the length and extent of the observation; lack of discrepancies between the initial description and the defendant; absence of conflicting identifications; photographic selection prior to the physical lineup; the certainty of the witness; a short interval between the crime and the lineup; prior acquaintance of the parties; and conduct of the lineup in a proper manner. Wade, supra; State v. Frank, 344 So.2d 1039 (La., 1977); State v. Kenner, 384 So.2d 413 (La., 1980); Manson v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S. 98, 97 S.Ct. 2243, 53 L.Ed.2d 140 (1977); Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 93 S.Ct. 375, 34 L.Ed.2d 401 (1972).
CONCLUSION
There is no indication that the lineup procedure used here was suggestive. This was not a one-on-one confrontation. Compare State v. Kenner, supra. Washington testified that he viewed the lineup without any coaching or hints from the police.
Washington gave a convincing explanation for remembering Frisco's face; Washington feared for his life. When the bullet was fired at his face, Washington had a surpassing reason for memorizing the face of the gun man. Washington's description of Frisco was detailed and indicated a close observation. The crime occurred near midday. In view of the time, the proximity of the two, and the riveting effect of Frisco's gun, Washington should have been able to identify his assailant. The period of observation was not long. However, the identification was unequivocal both before and during trial. Washington was never confused or doubtful. Compare State v. Frank, supra. Washington selected Frisco's photograph a few days after the crime and identified him in the physical lineup only two weeks later.
The courtroom identification by Washington was reliable and based on an independent source. When Frisco's alibi evidence was rebutted, the jury could have had little question about his guilt. It is clear beyond a reasonable doubt that the constitutional error in admitting trial evidence of the uncounseled pretrial identification did not contribute to Frisco's conviction. Chapman, supra. The error is, therefore, harmless. Moore, supra; Chapman, supra.
For the foregoing reasons, the conviction and sentence of defendant, James Frisco, are affirmed.
AFFIRMED.
CALOGERO, J., concurs.
DENNIS, J., dissents with reasons.
. LSA-R.S. 14:64 provides:
"A. Armed robbery is the theft of anything of value from the person of another or which is in the immediate control of another, by use of force or intimidation, while armed with a dangerous weapon.
"B. Whoever commits the crime of armed robbery shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than five years and for not more than ninety-nine years, without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence."