Opinion ID: 2457222
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The photospread

Text: With respect to the photospread, it is argued that, due to the communication between Detective Oberle and the victim's daughter, the victim knew prior to viewing the photographs that one of the pictures would be of a man suspected of the crimes. Mr. Monk contends that increased the odds of his picture being selected from the lineup. In other words, he argues the victim's knowledge foreclosed the possibility that she would not find anyone in the lineup she could identify as her assailant. In Hayes v. State, 311 Ark. 645, 846 S.W.2d 182 (1993), we held it not absolutely impermissible to tell a witness a suspect was in a lineup, for the witness must realize that she would not be called to view the lineup if a suspect were not present. Rather, what the witness has been told is only one factor to be considered. Considering the totality of the circumstances, it is doubtful that any knowledge the victim may have had about a suspect being in the lineup caused her to identify Mr. Monk as a look-alike mistakenly. The photospread provided in the abstract of the record of trial reveals that all of the men in the line-up were African-American and each had facial hair similar to the description the victim gave to the police. Detective Oberle testified he did not say anything to the victim which would have led to the identification. Mr. Monk argues the photo lineup here was more suggestive than the one we approved in Hayes v. State, supra , because Detective Oberle privately indicated to the victim's daughter that Mr. Monk was the suspect. As noted above, however, that conversation appears to have taken place after the victim had identified the look-alikes. There was nothing unconstitutionally suggestive about the photo lineup, and thus the testimony concerning it was admissible.