Opinion ID: 1928076
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: the show-up identification

Text: Harris argues that the show-up identification was impermissibly suggestive and the identification unreliable. When there is a challenge to identification procedures, we ask two questions: (1) Was the identification procedure unnecessarily suggestive and conducive to irreparable misidentification? (2) If so, given the totality of the circumstances, was the resulting identification reliable nonetheless? Patterson v. United States, 384 A.2d 663, 665 (D.C.1978) (citations omitted); see also Stovall v. Denno, 388 U.S. 293, 302, 87 S.Ct. 1967, 1972-73, 18 L.Ed.2d 1199 (1967). During the show-up identification five to six suspects were presented. They were brought up individually, and each witness viewed the suspects out of the presence of the other witnesses. There was nothing unduly suggestive about this procedure. Nor was it conducive to irreparable misidentification. Harris asserts that the identifications of Ms. Saunders at the hotel and Mr. Nandwani at the gift shop were unreliable. Ms. Saunders focused on Mr. Harris while he was in the hotel, and identified him in court. Mr. Nandwani gave a description of the two men who first entered his gift shop, and there is nothing in the transcript to suggest that the description was erroneous. Both Ms. Saunders and Mr. Nandwani had the opportunity to view Harris. Both paid attention to detail and gave descriptions which are not challenged on the record. The record reflects a sound level of certainty concerning their descriptions. The time of the registration at the hotel was 8:24 a.m. The men entered the gift shop at approximately 8:30 a.m. The show-up identification occurred around 11:00 a.m. Hence, under Manson v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S. 98, 97 S.Ct. 2243, 53 L.Ed.2d 140 (1977), the identifications would be deemed reliable. See also Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 93 S.Ct. 375, 34 L.Ed.2d 401 (1972). We agree with the trial judge's findings and determination in the § 23-110 hearing, see infra, that even assuming the show-ups were suggestive, the identifications of Harris by Ms. Saunders and Mr. Nandwani were reliable. Hence, we reject Harris' argument that the show-up identification was impermissibly suggestive and unreliable.