Opinion ID: 457796
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: denis' witness misidentification claim

Text: 97 Defendant Denis claims that the district court committed reversible error in refusing to correct before the jury the misleading and prejudicial testimony of a witness, Cynthia Ann Bernard, who mistakenly identified him in court as the person who rented the Ford Bronco found abandoned near the marijuana-ladened truck on March 27, 1983. He argues that Bernard should have identified co-defendant Hernandez because the rental agreement was drafted in the name of Hernandez, and bore the same signature as that shown in Hernandez' Florida driver's license and a prior rental agreement in Hernandez' name. Denis asserts that by allowing the false testimony to stand uncorrected before the jury, the court violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and unduly prejudiced his case. Individual Opening Brief of Appellants Denis and Carralero 17-23. 98 We have held in an analogous case, involving the failure to give requested cautionary instructions to the jury on the possible infirmities of witness testimony, that 99 on appeal we will focus on the facts of each case to determine whether the instruction was required to fairly present the case to the jury. In particular, we will consider whether identification was the sole or primary issue in the case, whether the evidence consisted mainly of eyewitness identification testimony, and whether that testimony was uncertain, qualified, or suggested a serious question whether the witnesses had an adequate opportunity to observe. 100 United States v. Thoma, 713 F.2d 604, 608 (10th Cir.1983), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 104 S.Ct. 721, 79 L.Ed.2d 183 (1984). 101 In Thoma, identification was a critical issue. However, we concluded that no reversible error occurred because the government's case did not depend on a single eyewitness, the court instructed the jury that it must find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crimes as alleged, and defense counsel emphasized the discrepancies in the identification testimony. Id.; see also United States v. Cueto, 628 F.2d 1273, 1276 (10th Cir.1980) (no reversible error in refusing to give requested instruction on identification testimony because the government's case did not depend on a single eyewitness and there was corroborating evidence to support the testimony); McGee v. United States, 402 F.2d 434, 436 (10th Cir.1968) (where the conclusiveness of identification has been challenged, it is incumbent upon the court to call attention to the fact that the jury must find beyond a reasonable doubt that it was the defendant on trial who had committed the acts as alleged), cert. denied, 394 U.S. 908, 89 S.Ct. 1020, 22 L.Ed.2d 220 (1969). 102 We recognize that a serious question is raised as to whether Bernard adequately observed the renter of the vehicle; we also realize that her identification testimony was uncorroborated. However, identification was not a critical issue here. The government's case against Denis did not depend on Bernard's testimony, but rather on other independent evidence linking him to the conspiracy and the landing and unloading of the plane on the night of March 27, 1983. 39 In addition, defense counsel pointed out the discrepancies in Bernard's testimony on cross-examination and in closing argument. (Tr. 1125-29, 1679-81). The court instructed the jury that the defendant was presumed innocent and that he could not be found guilty of the crimes charged absent proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. (Tr. 1756-57). In its instructions on the weight to be given witness testimony, the court further ordered the jury to consider the extent to which [the witness] has been supported or contradicted by other credible evidence; it emphasized that [a] witness may be discredited or impeached by contradictory evidence. (Tr. 1761). 103 We conclude that the court was not required to correct Bernard's testimony in order to fairly present the case to the jury.