Opinion ID: 674597
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Other Identifications of Lan Tran

Text: 142 Lan Tran also makes various challenges to the identifications of him by other BTK robbery victims, including Kim Lim, who was Elizabeth Lim's mother and one of the owners of San Wa Fine Jewelry in Georgia, Jenny Ngaopraseutsck, who was present when the Vientiane Restaurant in Bridgeport was robbed, and Vinh Tran, the nephew of Sen Van Ta who was present when Ta was murdered. Lan Tran complains that Kim Lim had initially selected pictures of three other men as the robbers; that Jenny Ngaopraseutsck was present when her aunt and uncle, Bounmy Banavong and Somlith Banavong, respectively, were shown the array; and that Vinh Tran, age 13 at the time of trial, could not remember how many times he viewed the array and did not remember whether his attention had been directed toward a particular picture. 143 In each instance, there was testimony that the 50-photo array was presented to the witness in an entirely neutral fashion and that the attention of the witness was not directed to any particular picture. For example, as to Vinh Tran, the detective who had presented the array, testified as follows: 144 We gave him the album and he flipped through the album. He looked at the album and he flipped through it and he get to photo--photograph number 24 [Tran's photo], and he look [sic ] at the photo and then he pointed at the photo and said this look like the guy. Then this little boy look [sic ] at me. 145 .... 146 One of the two detectives ... told the little boy, just keep on looking, finish the book, looking through the album. 147 (Tr. 5052-53.) The officer then testified that Vinh Tran went through the rest of the book and did not identify anyone else. As to Kim Lim, Detective Oldham testified that Kim Lim was asked to look through the book and identify when they [sic ] were able to, they [sic ] recognized who robbed the jewelry store. (December 27, 1991 Hearing at 123.) Oldham testified that he had not directed Kim Lim to any particular photograph or page, and had not said anything to her after she made her selections. In finding that the procedures leading to these identifications were not unduly suggestive, the district court clearly credited the testimony of the officers, as it was entitled to do. 148 As to Ngaopraseutsck, all of the witnesses testified that her attention had not been drawn to any particular photograph or page. There was evidence that she had not observed the earlier identifications made by Somlith and Bounmy; Ngaopraseutsck testified that she did not know until after she selected Lan Tran's photograph whether or not the Banavongs had identified anyone at all. The district court's finding that the procedures were not unduly suggestive is amply supported. 149 Finally, we note that Lan Tran also contends that the district court erred in allowing Vinh Tran to give unsworn testimony. This contention is frivolous. When children testify, the trial court may fashion an oath or affirmation that is meaningful to the witness. Spigarolo v. Meachum, 934 F.2d 19, 24 (2d Cir.1991); see Fed.R.Evid. 603 (setting out the oath requirement). An  '[a]ffirmation is simply a solemn undertaking to tell the truth; no special verbal formula is required.'  Spigarolo v. Meachum, 934 F.2d at 24 (quoting Fed.R.Evid. 603 Advisory Committee Notes). 150 Here, the court asked several questions to establish that Vinh Tran appreciated the difference between truth and falsehood and that he knew it would be improper to lie in this proceeding. The court concluded its questioning of Vinh Tran as follows: 151 You've told me that you understand that it is very wrong to tell a lie. 152 Do you promise me that in response to Mr. Vinegrad's questions and in response to any questions that Mr. Meyerson [defense counsel] asks, do you promise me that you will tell the truth. THE WITNESS: Yes 153 THE COURT: You understand it's wrong not to. 154 THE WITNESS: Yes. 155 (Tr. 5079.) The district court was satisfied with these answers. Nothing more was required.