Opinion ID: 413469
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Michael's Appeal

Text: 11 Michael's sole contention on appeal is that the District Court erred in denying his motion to suppress the pretrial and incourt identification testimony of Larry Hill. Michael argues that the pretrial showup at which he was identified by Hill was conducted in such an unnecessarily suggestive fashion that the admission of Hill's subsequent in-court identification testimony denied him due process of law. 10 We disagree. 12 We need not determine whether the pretrial showup at which Michael was exhibited to Hill was unnecessarily suggestive. For purposes of our analysis we assume that it was in fact suggestive to an unnecessary degree. It is firmly established, however, that due process does not require the suppression of all in-court identifications following unnecessarily suggestive pretrial identification procedures. United States v. Field, 625 F.2d 862 (9th Cir.1980). Rather, we must determine whether, in light of the totality of surrounding circumstances, the pretrial identification procedure was so impermissibly suggestive as to give rise to a very substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification. Simmons v. United States, 390 U.S. 377, 384, 88 S.Ct. 967, 971, 19 L.Ed.2d 1247 (1968). It is the likelihood of misidentification which violates a defendant's right to due process .... Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 198, 93 S.Ct. 375, 381, 34 L.Ed.2d 401 (1972). Thus, even unnecessarily suggestive pretrial procedures do not violate due process so long as the identification possesses sufficient aspects of reliability. Manson v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S. 98, 106, 97 S.Ct. 2243, 2249, 53 L.Ed.2d 140 (1977). 13 In Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. at 199-200, 93 S.Ct. at 382, the Supreme Court set forth certain factors to be considered by determining whether identification testimony possesses sufficient indicia of reliability to justify its admission at trial: 14 The opportunity of the witness to view the criminal at the time of the crime, the witness' degree of attention, the accuracy of the witness' prior description of the criminal, the level of certainty demonstrated by the witness at the confrontation, and the length of time between the crime and confrontation. 11 15 Against these five factors must be weighed the corrupting effect of the suggestive pretrial identification procedure. Manson v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S. at 114, 97 S.Ct. at 2253. In evaluating this corrupting effect, we give consideration to the conduct on the part of the government agents tending to focus the witness' attention on the defendant. United States v. Crawford, 576 F.2d 794, 797 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 851, 99 S.Ct. 157, 58 L.Ed.2d 155 (1978) (footnote omitted). 12 16 Applying the above analysis to the present case, we conclude that the identification testimony of Larry Hill was sufficiently reliable to warrant its admission at trial. Although Hill only viewed the robber for approximately twelve seconds, his view was unobstructed and at close range. When the robber turned and shot at Hill, Hill had an opportunity to view the robber's unmasked face for a period of approximately four seconds and from a distance of only four feet. It could reasonably be inferred that at the life threatening moment when the robber turned and fired, Hill's attention was focused sharply on his assailant. Hill described the robber as being a black male, approximately six feet tall and weighing approximately 160 pounds. Hill further described the robber as being clean shaven and wearing blue jeans or dark trousers. Hill's description was an accurate statement of the physical characteristics of Michael Burnette. 13 Moreover, Hill's description of the gun carried by the robber matched the revolver found in Room 123 of the Tucson Inn. 14 At the time of the showup at the Tucson Police Station, Hill exhibited a high degree of certainty that Michael was the man who had shot at him. Later, at trial, Hill testified that at the time of the showup he was immediately certain that Michael was the man. 15 Finally, the showup at the police station occurred no more than two hours after Hill had pursued the fleeing robber. 17 Nor does the suggestiveness of the showup itself appear to have influenced Hill in his identification of Michael. It should be noted that shortly before his confrontation with Michael at the Tucson Police Station, Hill had seen another handcuffed black male at the Tucson Inn. Hill testified at trial that upon seeing the man at the Inn he had been immediately aware that the man was not the person he had earlier pursued at the Savings & Loan. Further, Hill testified at trial that he had recognized Michael as the man he had pursued prior to any police conduct directing his attention to Michael. Under these circumstances, we conclude that Hill's identification testimony was sufficiently reliable to permit its admission at trial. Accordingly, the conviction of Michael Burnette is affirmed.