Opinion ID: 412669
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Accuracy of the Prior Description

Text: 34 The Fifth District found that the witnesses' descriptions are accurate. To the extent this finding can be substantiated by reference to the trial court record, it is not fairly supported by the record in several respects. Almengor initially described only two of the assailants as having mustaches; all three defendants, however, had mustaches on October 27, 1972. Allen initially stated that only one of the attackers had a mustache. Both witnesses changed their stories at trial and testified that all three assailants had mustaches. See part II(C) supra. 35 A related and more relevant inquiry is the certainty and detail with which the witnesses described the assailants. See Washington v. Cupp, 586 F.2d 134, 137 (9th Cir.1978), cert. denied, 441 U.S. 909, 99 S.Ct. 2003, 60 L.Ed.2d 379 (1979) (victim provided a specific and detailed description). Here, although Almengor was able to describe the assailants' clothing and complexion, his description clearly was not detailed. Cf. Biggers, 409 U.S. at 200, 93 S.Ct. at 382 (description included assailant's approximate age, height, weight, complexion, skin texture, build, and voice); Washington, 586 F.2d at 137 (description included race, height, build, hair style, complexion, age, facial characteristics, and clothing). Allen's description was even less certain and detailed: he could not remember whether the attackers were Caucasian or Chicano. See part II(C) supra.