Opinion ID: 601810
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Failure to Point Out Defendant

Text: 41 Defendant argues that as an indispensable element of the government's case, it was necessary for a witness to actually point out the defendant in the courtroom. The short answer to this contention is that it has no merit whatsoever. The case law is that it suffices to establish identity by inference and circumstantial evidence. U.S. v. Royals, 777 F.2d 1089 (5th Cir.1985); Delegal v. U.S., 329 F.2d 494 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 379 U.S. 821, 85 S.Ct. 44, 13 L.Ed.2d 32 (1964). 42 No one argues that Seals was not the perpetrator of the offenses. His identity was never questioned during the trial. Nevertheless, we do note that: 1) Seals was charged as a previously convicted felon, and stipulated to this fact; 2) many references were made to Joseph Noel Seals and the defendant interchangeably throughout the trial, without objection; 3) a forty-five minute video tape of the defendant's arrest was shown to the jury; and 4) defendant's counsel stated, the defendant, Mr. Seals, when referring to a scene in the video tape. As the trial judge stated to defense counsel after denying his motion on this issue--Nice Try! 43 The judgment of the trial court is AFFIRMED. 44 Senior Judge of the Western District of Louisiana, sitting by designation.