Opinion ID: 196422
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Doe's identification of Levasseur

Text: 39 As the linchpin in the prosecution's case, Doe's identification of Levasseur is strong inculpatory evidence. It readily satisfies all but one of the traditional indicia of reliability that the Due Process Clause requires of identifications. See Manson v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S. 98, 114, 97 S.Ct. 2243, 2253, 53 L.Ed.2d 140 (1977) (setting out the factors for assessing reliability of identification testimony). Doe had adequate opportunity to view her assailant throughout the incident; her degree of attention during a traumatic experience is presumed to have been acute, despite her having consumed two drinks earlier that evening; her prior description of her assailant accurately fits Levasseur; when she saw Levasseur in his truck, Doe demonstrated a high degree of certainty in identifying him as the perpetrator (and this comes from a woman who appreciated the gravity of the charges as demonstrated by her refusal to identify Levasseur by his photo alone and request to see him in person); and she never positively identified anyone other than Levasseur throughout the six-month investigation. Although the six-month lapse between the rape and Doe's identification of Levasseur is troubling, its effect is outweighed by the sheer strength and number of the other factors. 40 Officer Mendes' and Inspector Boutselis' testimony corroborated Doe's identification testimony on certain events, such as her initial and subsequent descriptions of her assailant and the truck, her assertion that she was not intoxicated, and her reactions to the photo arrays and field identification. In addition, Mr. Ralls' eyewitness testimony describing the assailant's truck was consistent with Doe's. 41 The only inroads that Levasseur's counsel was able to make against Doe's credibility was highlighting her failure to notice a scar on Levasseur's neck and tattoos 7 on his arm despite her testimony that Levasseur was wearing a tanktop when he raped her. Such an oversight, however, is understandable given the circumstances 8 and would be unlikely to undermine Doe's otherwise detailed description. 42