Opinion ID: 2052501
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Brenda Hall and George Cruthard

Text: With respect to the motion to suppress Hall's and Cruthard's identifications, defendant argues that the court applied an incorrect legal standard and asks that we remand the cause to the trial court for further proceedings on his motion. After the trial judge said that he was denying the motion to suppress Hall's and Cruthard's identifications, defendant's attorney tried to explain that, at least with respect to Cruthard, there was clear, unrebutted evidence that the police used suggestive procedures. The trial judge then stated, Goes to weight, not admissibility. It will be denied. We agree with defendant that the trial judge's statement of the law was erroneous. In People v. Blumenshine, 42 Ill.2d 508, 511-12, 250 N.E.2d 152 (1969), this court held that suggestive identification procedures affect the admissibility rather than the weight of identification testimony and overruled prior decisions that suggested to the contrary. See also Stovall v. Denno, 388 U.S. 293, 87 S.Ct. 1967, 18 L.Ed.2d 1199 (1967); Gilbert v. California, 388 U.S. 263, 87 S.Ct. 1951, 18 L.Ed.2d 1178 (1967). Nevertheless, we disagree with defendant's suggestion that we should remand the cause to the trial court for further proceedings. The defendant has the burden to show that a pretrial identification was impermissibly suggestive. People v. Enis, 163 Ill.2d 367, 398, 206 Ill.Dec. 604, 645 N.E.2d 856 (1994). The State may then overcome this showing by clear and convincing evidence that the witness is identifying the defendant based on his or her independent recollection of the incident. Enis, 163 Ill.2d at 398, 206 Ill.Dec. 604, 645 N.E.2d 856. With respect to Hall, it is clear defendant did not meet his burden of showing suggestiveness. Defense counsel did not elicit any testimony from Hall that would indicate that the police used suggestive procedures. Defense counsel seemed to concede this, because after the court said that the motion would be denied, defense counsel began to argue only with respect to Cruthard. On appeal, the evidence upon which defendant relies to say that the police used suggestive identification procedures with Hall was evidence that came out at trial. Hall testified at trial both that she did and did not see the names on the backs of the photos. Defendant argues that, in ruling on the trial court's decision on a motion to suppress, the reviewing court can consider evidence introduced at trial as well as at the suppression hearing. Defendant cites People v. Braden, 34 Ill.2d 516, 520, 216 N.E.2d 808 (1966), and People v. Reese, 92 Ill.App.3d 1112, 1113-14, 48 Ill.Dec. 419, 416 N.E.2d 692 (1981), for this proposition. See also People v. Kidd, 175 Ill.2d 1, 25, 221 Ill.Dec. 486, 675 N.E.2d 910 (1996). However, in these cases, the courts relied on trial testimony to affirm the trial court's denial of a motion to suppress. Defendant is asking us to overturn the trial court's ruling on the motion to suppress based on evidence that came out at trial. The analysis is different in this situation. When a reviewing court affirms a trial court's suppression ruling based on evidence that came out at trial, it is akin to a harmless error analysis. The reviewing court is essentially saying that whether the court's decision was supported by sufficient evidence at the suppression hearing becomes irrelevant when evidence to support the trial court's decision is introduced at trial. One reason this is so is that the pretrial ruling on a motion to suppress is not final and may be changed or reversed at any time prior to final judgment. See People v. Caballero, 102 Ill.2d 23, 35-36, 79 Ill.Dec. 625, 464 N.E.2d 223 (1984). We do not believe that this reasoning applies equally when a defendant is asking us to rely upon trial evidence to reverse a trial court's decision on a pretrial suppression ruling, particularly when the defendant fails to object when the relevant evidence is introduced. Clearly, no evidence of suggestive procedures with respect to Hall was introduced at the pretrial hearing. When Hall testified at trial that she saw the names on the backs of the photos, defense counsel should have asked the court to reconsider its decision on the motion to suppress. As stated, that decision remained subject to change until final judgment. By not asking the court to reconsider its ruling on the motion to suppress when that evidence was introduced at trial, defendant has waived his right to argue it on appeal. Moreover, even considering the trial testimony, defendant did not make out a prima facie case of suggestiveness with respect to Hall. Hall's testimony on whether she saw the names was equivocal, and she also testified that she had never heard the name Terrence Brooks before she saw the pictures. In addition to trial testimony, defendant relies upon evidence about which he is arguing for the first time on appeal. Defendant argues that, in the photos shown to Hall, the arrest dates are prominently displayed on placards hung around the individuals' necks. The date on defendant's placard is August 15, 1991, eight days after the shooting. Hall was never questioned about the dates on the photos, and defendant never made this argument in the trial court. Defendant cites no authority for the proposition that a court can consider evidence argued for the first time on appeal in considering a trial court's ruling on a motion to suppress. To be reviewed on appeal, evidence must have been presented to the fact finder at trial ( People v. Steidl, 142 Ill.2d 204, 226, 154 Ill.Dec. 616, 568 N.E.2d 837 (1991)), and arguments made for the first time on appeal are waived ( People v. Page, 156 Ill.2d 258, 275, 189 Ill.Dec. 371, 620 N.E.2d 339 (1993)). With respect to Cruthard, defendant did make a prima facie case that the police used suggestive identification procedures. Cruthard testified at the hearing on the motion to suppress that Assistant State's Attorney Michael Smith told him several times, before showing him any pictures, that defendant was the one who shot him. Accordingly, the burden then shifted to the State to show an independent basis for Cruthard's identification. The State did not call Smith to rebut Cruthard's testimony. Absent a showing of an independent basis, the court should have granted the motion to suppress Cruthard's identification. Defendant requests that we remand this cause to the trial court for a hearing on whether there was an independent basis for Cruthard's identification of defendant. We decline defendant's suggestion to remand this matter to the circuit court for further proceedings on the motion to suppress. The independent basis determination can be made by a reviewing court where the record permits an informed judgment. People v. Curtis, 113 Ill.2d 136, 147, 100 Ill.Dec. 735, 497 N.E.2d 1004 (1986). If the reviewing court cannot reach an informed judgment as to whether the identification had an independent origin, the conviction will be vacated pending a hearing in the trial court to allow the State to prove an independent origin. People v. Blumenshine, 42 Ill.2d 508, 513, 250 N.E.2d 152 (1969). Here, Cruthard's testimony at the hearing and at trial provides a sufficiently complete recounting of the events of the shooting for us to make an informed judgment on whether his identification of defendant had an independent basis. In determining whether an identification has an independent origin, we consider the following factors: (1) the opportunity of the witness to view the assailant at the time of the crime; (2) the witness' degree of attention; (3) the accuracy of the witness' prior description of the offender; (4) the level of certainty demonstrated by the witness at the suggestive confrontation; and (5) the length of time between the offense and the suggestive confrontation. Enis, 163 Ill.2d at 398, 206 Ill.Dec. 604, 645 N.E.2d 856. We also consider whether the witness was acquainted with the suspect before the crime, and whether there was any pressure on the witness to make a certain identification. People v. Bryant, 94 Ill.2d 514, 521, 69 Ill.Dec. 84, 447 N.E.2d 301 (1983). Cruthard's trial testimony shows an independent basis for his identification of defendant. Cruthard testified that, although the lights in the cab were off, the street lights on the corner were lit. The cars were moving slowly, and the cab was only five or six yards away when the shooting started. Although the shooting was going on for only a second or so before Cruthard dove on top of Taylor, Cruthard could see that Ivan Smith was driving the cab and defendant was in the backseat, leaning forward toward the door. Thus, the evidence showed that Cruthard had an adequate opportunity to view the assailant. The level of certainty demonstrated also favors admission. Once Cruthard decided to speak to the police, the record does not demonstrate any hesitation in his identifying defendant. Perhaps the strongest factor weighing in favor of admission is that Cruthard was acquainted with defendant before the crime. Cruthard had known defendant for approximately four years and knew that he was a member of the Black Disciples. This is particularly important because it renders the other factors less relevant. See People v. Robinson, 42 Ill.2d 371, 375-76, 247 N.E.2d 898 (1969) (stressing the importance of a witness' prior acquaintance with the person identified). Even if the conditions for viewing the perpetrators are less than ideal, when a witness sees the face of someone he knows, it is less suspicious when he identifies that person 22 months later than if he would have seen the face of a complete stranger and tried to identify that person 22 months later. If Cruthard knew defendant and saw his face in the cab, the police's suggestive procedures would have been largely irrelevant. See Robinson, 42 Ill.2d at 375-76, 247 N.E.2d 898. Cruthard explained his 22-month silence by saying that he did not originally tell the police who was involved because he did not want the police to arrest him and that he was worried about himself and his family. We do not consider the factor of Cruthard's prior description, because he did not make one. Cruthard was not shown the pictures and asked to identify the offenders. There are two versions of what happened. Either Cruthard told the police who was involved and then picked out their pictures, or Michael Smith told Cruthard who was involved, and Cruthard then picked out their pictures. Either way, Cruthard did not make a general prior description of the perpetrators. The factor of Cruthard's degree of attention weighs against admissibility. Cruthard testified that, although he noticed the windows being rolled down, he did not see who was doing that because he was not paying attention. It appears that Cruthard did not pay close attention to the cab until the shooting started, and at that point he quickly dove on top of Taylor to protect him. The length of time between the offense and the suggestive procedure also does not favor admission. Although the length of time between the offense and the suggestive procedure was not long, the relevant time period here is the length of time between the offense and Cruthard's identification. Cruthard did not identify defendant until 22 months after the shooting. Finally, the factor of whether the witness was under any pressure to make a certain identification also weighs against admission. There was testimony at the hearing on the motion to suppress that Assistant State's Attorney Michael Smith kept telling Cruthard that he knew defendant shot him. Further, the record shows that Cruthard gave the statement to the police after he lost the motion to suppress in his narcotics case. He received a light sentence for the amount of drugs involved, and received a recommendation that he would not be sent to Stateville or Pontiac. The shortcomings of Cruthard's testimony notwithstanding, we believe the record demonstrates an independent basis for Cruthard's identification. Three factors weigh in favor of admission, and three weigh against admission. However, we cannot overstate the importance of Cruthard's knowing defendant before the incident. We believe the record adequately shows that Cruthard's identification was based on what he saw on the night of the shooting rather than on any suggestive procedures employed by the police.