Opinion ID: 2621326
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: photomontage

Text: Petitioner Paul Vickers claims that admission of identification evidence by an impermissibly suggestive photomontage violated his due process rights. He argues that the photomontage was suggestive because his picture was the only driver's license photograph among the five other MUGGIS shots; [78] because the background of his photograph was lighter; and he was the only person in the photomontage not wearing coveralls. [79] This suggestiveness, he argues, made the identification unreliable when analyzed under the factors announced in Neil v. Biggers. [80] An out-of-court photographic identification violates due process if it is so impermissibly suggestive as to give rise to a substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification. [81] To establish a violation, Petitioner Paul Vickers bears the burden of showing that the identification procedure was impermissibly suggestive. [82] If he fails, the inquiry ends. [83] If he proves the procedure was suggestive, the court then considers, based upon the totality of the circumstances, whether the procedure created a substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification. [84] Petitioner Paul Vickers does not make a preliminary showing that the photomontage was impermissibly suggestive. The trial court examined the photomontage and concluded that any differences between the individual photographs were so minor as not to be impermissibly suggestive. [85] The photographs were black and white and appeared to be the same size, showing men in the same front face format. [86] All the men had facial hair (moustaches and goatees) and were approximately the same age. [87] The lighter background in Petitioner Paul Vickers' photograph does not unduly draw attention to it, nor do the photographs show enough clothing to draw attention. [88] These minor differences are not sufficient to warrant further inquiry. The Court of Appeals did not err in holding that the photomontage satisfied due process requirements.