Opinion ID: 412669
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Opportunity to View

Text: 30 The Fifth District found that the witnesses had an adequate opportunity to view the crime. Fifth District Opinion at 5. The relevant inquiry, however, is the witness' opportunity to view the criminal. Biggers, 409 U.S. at 199, 93 S.Ct. at 382. We conclude that, at least with respect to witness Allen, the witness had no opportunity to observe the assailant later identified as Mata. To the extent the Fifth District's finding can be construed to be contrary, it is not fairly supported by the record. 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2254(d)(8). Allen consistently testified that he did not see the person Almengor was fighting (allegedly Mata). Allen was preoccupied with the tall man who lunged at him with a large knife (allegedly Vargas). After Allen backed away from this man he turned to yell for help and never again saw the assailants' faces. See part II(A) supra. 31 Almengor's opportunity to view the assailant he identified as Mata was somewhat better. After fist-fighting with this man Almengor faced him eye-to-eye for several minutes, several seconds. However, Almengor was not wearing his glasses at the time, and the entire incident lasted no longer than a few minutes. See id. Cf. United States v. Williams, 626 F.2d 697, 703 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 1020, 101 S.Ct. 586, 66 L.Ed.2d 482 (1980) (witness viewed bank robber for about 20 minutes at close quarters); United States v. Field, 625 F.2d 862, 865 (9th Cir.1980) (witness viewed bank robber for only one minute from 2-3 feet; identification testimony held tainted). If the Fifth District can be said to have described this as an adequate opportunity to view the criminal, that description is supported by the record. Adequate, however, is a finding hardly specific enough upon which to rely in reaching a conclusion that must be based on the totality of the circumstances. Manson, 432 U.S. at 113-14, 97 S.Ct. at 2252-53. Therefore, we consider the specific details of Almengor's encounter with the assailant, see part II(A) supra, to be fairly supported by the record and to be relevant to his opportunity ... to view the criminal at the time of the crime. Biggers, 409 U.S. at 199, 93 S.Ct. at 382.