Opinion ID: 2150750
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Under the facts of this case, the resolution of this issue is determined entirely by the trial court's assessment of the credibility of the witnesses. In this case, there were three witnesses. The owner of the store and his wife had an opportunity to observe the defendant in the store for a period of ten minutes during the robbery. Both identified the defendant by photographs, prior to trial; and both identified him at the trial. We have reviewed the record and are of the opinion that a detailed review of the testimony in this opinion would serve no useful purpose. The various factors raised by the defendant concerning the identification by the two witnesses has been considered. We find their testimony to be believable and in no way incredible. While the specific testimony of the witnesses, referred to by the defendant, may affect the weight to be accorded their testimony, it can not be said as a matter of law that their testimony was so insufficient that no trier of fact could be convinced of the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Lock v. State (1966), 31 Wis. 2d 110, 114, 115, 142 N. W. 2d 183. On review, it is not the function of the appellate court to decide which witnesses are to be believed. That is the exact function of the trier of fact, be such trier of fact the judge or a jury. Where credibility of witnesses is at issue, the trier of fact has an opportunity to observe the witnesses, their manner of testifying and their demeanor on the witness stand. These are the nuances that do not appear in a printed record. State v. Christopher (1969), 44 Wis. 2d 120, 127, 170 N. W. 2d 803. The proprietor's eighty-three-year-old aunt was also present while the armed robbery in question was in progress. The defendant urges that the unexplained failure of the state to call her as a witness raises an inference against the state that if called, she would have testified unfavorably to the state's case. Reliance is placed upon the general rule in civil cases. Feldstein v. Harrington (1958), 4 Wis. 2d 380, 388, 90 N. W. 2d 566. Under the facts of this case, we do not concur with this assertion. Defendant was positively identified at the trial by two eyewitnesses. The trial court found their testimony sufficient to establish the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This court has held that the state does not have the burden of producing every possible eyewitness. Dillon v. State (1909), 137 Wis. 655, 119 N. W. 352; Farino v. State (1931), 203 Wis. 374, 234 N. W. 366; Brown v. State (1965), 28 Wis. 2d 383, 388, 137 N. W. 2d 53. The absence of an available witness does not as a matter of law render the testimony of others insufficient to sustain a finding of guilt. Brown v. State, supra ; State v. Clarke (1967), 36 Wis. 2d 263, 153 N. W. 2d 61.