Opinion ID: 2997558
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Witnesses of the Twin Foods Robbery

Text: Shirley Bowden was working as a cashier at Twin Foods and Liquors the night of the robbery. At about 10:00 P.M., she noticed a man standing near the liquor department who was “huddled up” in his coat even though it was not especially cold that night. The man walked to the liquor department and passed within four feet of Bowden. A few minutes later, Bowden heard a gunshot and the warning, “Stay down mother fucker. This is a stickup. Stay down.” Bowden looked toward the liquor department and saw the man she had noticed earlier reaching over the counter and taking money from the register. After she heard a second shot, the robber ran through the store and out the front door, passing Bowden as he did so. Bowden ducked behind the counter when she saw him coming toward her but stood up after he exited to verify which direction he was running. Bowden called the police and then went to the liquor department to find Vrabel lying on the floor and bleeding. At trial, Bowden identified Floyd Richardson as the man whom she saw commit the robbery and murder. She also testified that she had seen Richardson in the neighborhood prior to April 1. She had not viewed a lineup or photo array before trial. Bonnie Williams was also working at Twin Foods on the night of the robbery. Williams testified that she ducked behind a counter when told that a robbery was occurring. When she heard the first shot, she stood up and looked toward the liquor department in time to see a man reaching behind the counter and taking money out of the register. 4 No. 04-1513 The man ran out of the store past Williams and Bowden. Williams was able to see “his whole face” when it was “just a few feet” away. Williams identified Richardson in open court and testified that she had selected his photograph from both black and white and color photo arrays that police officers had shown her in 1982. She said she had seen Richardson once before the robbery, but that she did not know him personally.