Opinion ID: 2313014
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Opportunity to View

Text: Both Mrs. Munoz and Mrs. Saunders testified that their original views of defendant during the crimes were unobstructed, face-to-face confrontations in good light. Therefore, the only question in regard to whether these witnesses had adequate opportunities to view concerns the duration of those views. Mrs. Munoz viewed defendant on two separate occasions prior to her identification. During her first view, on August 11, 1985, she testified that she observed and conversed with defendant at a distance of two to three feet for approximately three minutes. Mrs. Munoz's second opportunity to view, on August 21, 1985, lasted only a few seconds before she recognized the stranger and quickly closed her door to prevent him from reentering her apartment. However, she also testified that she was able to observe defendant from her window for several moments after he had left her apartment and walked down the street. Mrs. Saunders testified that she observed defendant from a distance of about twenty feet for thirty to forty seconds. Although both witnesses' fairly brief opportunities to view defendant are of concern, we must weigh this factor against the remaining factors in the Biggers test before we make a final determination regarding the possibility for misidentification.