Court Opinion

ID: 3146843
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 18:22:43.211418+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:55:14.715253
License: Public Domain

FIRST DIVISION
                                                                      DECEMBER 15, 2008

No. 1-07-0137

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,                           )      Appeal from the
                                                               )      Circuit Court of
                       Plaintiff-Appellee,                     )      Cook County.
                                                               )
    v.                                                         )      No. 00 CR 11338
                                                               )
DANIEL RODRIGUEZ,                                              )      Honorable
                                                               )      Bertina Lampkin,
                       Defendant-Appellant.                    )      Judge Presiding.

         JUSTICE ROBERT E. GORDON delivered the opinion of the court:

         Defendant Daniel Rodriguez was convicted by a jury on September 21, 2005, of the first-

degree murder of 18-year-old Ricardo Vasquez. In addition, the jury found that defendant

personally discharged the firearm that proximately caused Vasquez’s death. The murder was the

result of a gang-related, drive-by shooting on April 1, 2000, at approximately 9:30 p.m., in the

vicinity of 8707 South Escanaba Street in Chicago. Defendant was sentenced to 45 years of

incarceration, which was the minimum available sentence and which included a 25 year

enhancement for discharging the firearm that proximately caused the victim’s death.           On

appeal, defendant makes two claims. First, defendant claims that the trial court abused its

discretion by giving a portion of Illinois Pattern Jury Instruction, Criminal, No. 3.15 (4th ed.

2000) (IPI Criminal 4th). Defendant claims that social science evidence indicates that part of the

instruction is based on a mistaken assumption, namely that an identification is more credible if the
No. 1-07-0137

witness is more certain. Second, defendant claims that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing

to file a motion to suppress a show-up identification of defendant by two witnesses an hour after

the murder.

       For the following reasons, we affirm the conviction.

                                         BACKGROUND

       Defendant’s trial began on September 19, 2005. At trial, eight witnesses testified; and all

eight were called by the State. Of the eight, four were witnesses to the shooting: (1) Carlos Luna;

(2) Camelia Prado; (3) Joseph Gonzalez; and (4) Antoine Lacy. Francisco Ortiz, an acquaintance

of defendant, testified that, on the morning of the shooting, defendant stated that he had “some

business” with members of a rival gang because they had damaged his vehicle, the night before.

The remaining three witnesses were law enforcement personnel: (1) Officer Edward Maras, an

officer with the Chicago police department, who detained defendant after the shooting; (2) Scott

Rochowicz, a forensic scientist with the Illinois State Police, who tested gunshot residue

recovered from defendant’s hands; and (3) Adrienne Segovia, a deputy medical examiner with

Cook County, who performed an autopsy on the shooting victim.

       Of the four event witnesses, two were able to identify defendant as the shooter: (1)

Antoine Lacey; and (2) Joseph Gonzalez. Lacey and Gonzalez identified defendant during a

show-up procedure shortly after the shooting. Prado, who was also present at the show-up, was

unable to identify defendant.

       Carlos Luna testified that he was 25 years old, and that in 2000, he was a member of a

gang called the Latin Dragons. On April 1, 2000, he was standing with a few friends in front of a

                                                  2
No. 1-07-0137

house located at 8707 South Escanaba Avenue. There were approximately 10 people standing in

front of the house, and approximately 6 were gang members. The streetlights were on, as well as

a porch light. Luna observed a four-door grey Cadillac Seville come from east 87th Street and

head west on Escanaba Avenue. Luna approached the vehicle, arriving within 15 feet of it, and

the vehicle was traveling slowly. Luna testified that “[t]he driver threw his head back and the

passenger opened fire.” Luna was unable to observe the passenger’s face “[b]ecause of the gun

flash.” Later that night, when Luna was shown an array of photographs at a police station, he

was unable to identify either the driver or the passenger of the vehicle.

       Luna further testified that he heard four shots fired. When he heard the first shot, he fell

to the ground. Luna identified photographs of: Ricardo Vasquez, the shooting victim; the

shooter’s vehicle; and the house in front of which Luna was standing. When Luna stood up after

the shooting, he saw that Vazquez had been shot.

       Camelia Prado testified that she was 29 years old and that in 2000, her aunt lived at 8707

South Escanaba Avenue. At 9:20 p.m., Prado was outside that address with her cousins Anna

Rosa and Albert Campos, as well as Carlos Luna, Joseph Gonzalez, Antonio Lacy, Ricardo

Vasquez and “other friends.” At that time, Prado was a member of the Latin Dragons. Prado

was on the porch with her cousin Anna and another cousin and “the kids,” while Joseph Gonzalez

and Alberto Campos were on the steps. The porch and street lights were on, but the street lights

were “like orange” and “dim.”

       Prado testified that at about 9:20 p.m., a four-door “short-bodied” Cadillac “came off of

East 87th Street” on to Escanaba Avenue, and “slowed up in front of [her] aunt’s house.” Prado

                                                  3
No. 1-07-0137

watched this vehicle “[b]ecause it’s a hot block.” Prado explained that when she used the term

‘hot block,’ she meant “because of the gangs and stuff like that it was always shooting, drive-bys

and stuff like that.” Prado observed two occupants in the vehicle, a driver and a passenger; and

that the driver’s window was down.

        Prado testified that when the vehicle slowed down, Luna approached it and then “[t]he

guy on the passenger side started shooting.” The passenger “kind of leaned toward the driver,

and we just starting seeing like the fire in front of the driver’s face, and the driver threw himself

back.” Prado heard three or four shots, and “the car kept driving and it crashed into a van that

was parked.” When the first shots were fired, everyone scattered and Prado hid behind a column

on the porch. The victim, Vasquez, “started running towards the corner away from the car” when

he was shot. After the vehicle crashed into the van, “[i]t kept going straight up the block to 91st

Street and made a left.”

        Prado testified that she called the police. When the police arrived, she provided a

description of the shooter’s vehicle. Approximately an hour later, the police returned and asked

her to look at a vehicle to “see if it’s the car you just saw.” Prado went with Antoine Lacy and

Joseph Gonzalez to view the vehicle. Prado was able to identify the vehicle as the shooter’s

vehicle, but she was not able to identify the shooter. On the witness stand, Prado identified

photographs of Ricardo Vasquez, her aunt’s building and the shooter’s vehicle

        On cross-examination, Prado denied having told the 911 operator that there were four

people in the vehicle. The defense played the 911 tape. On redirect examination, Prado explained

that, while she was on the telephone with the 911 operator, someone said to her that there had

                                                   4
No. 1-07-0137

been four people in the vehicle. Prado repeated that as a question to the person who had stated it.

When the 911 operator repeated that statement, Prado first responded “yes” and then responded

“no.”

        Joseph Gonzalez testified that he was a convicted felon, for possession of a handgun. On

April 1, 2000, he was “[a]bout 18 maybe.” At 9:20 p.m., he was “hanging out” at 8707 South

Escanaba Avenue, with a few friends, including Ricardo Vasquez, Camelia Prado, Carlos Luna

and Antoine Lacey. Gonzalez was on the first or second step from the bottom, in front of the

porch, when he observed a vehicle come “down east 87th ,” turn left on to Escanaba Avenue, and

slow down. The vehicle “came to like almost a complete stop” in front of the house. Due to the

street lights, “east 87th [was] all lit up.” The vehicle was a blue, “short-body,” four-door vehicle.

Gonzalez observed two occupants in the vehicle, a driver and a passenger.

        Gonzalez testified that he was watching the vehicle “[b]ecause right where we live at it’s a

real dangerous block, so any car that comes through you have to pay attention to *** it’s a high

gang activity area right there.” At that time, Gonzalez was a member of the Latin Dragons.

Gonzalez tried to look into the vehicle to see “like who the h—, who is that.” Gonzalez testified

that he could not see the driver, but he could see the passenger, whom he identified in court as

defendant. Gonzalez then observed that the passenger “upped a pistol and started shooting,” and

the driver “leaned back, dude shot right in front of his face pow, pow like that.” The passenger

fired four or five shots into the crowd in front of and on the porch.   After the shots stopped, the

vehicle “took off toward the way it was coming, down towards like 91st” and “sideswiped maybe

2 or 3 cars and then it just kept going.”

                                                  5
No. 1-07-0137

       Gonzalez testified that after the vehicle departed, he noticed that “Ricardo [Vasquez]

didn’t get up.” Vasquez was “on the ground shaking” and bleeding. After the police and the

ambulance arrived, Gonzalez provided a description of both the shooter and his vehicle.

Gonzalez testified that he informed the police that the shooter was “[H]ispanic, about my

complexion, shaved on the side with longer hair on top.” Approximately 10 or 20 minutes later,

the police asked him to travel to another location, where he identified both the shooter and his

vehicle. The police shined a light on the suspect so that Gonzalez could see the suspect, but the

suspect could not see him. Gonzalez testified that defendant’s hair was “[s]haved on one side

and longer on top.” Gonzales testified that “I think it was 3 of us there in the back of the car”

during the identification, and that he was certain Camelia Prado was there. At trial, Gonzalez

identified photographs of the shooter’s vehicle and the scene of the shooting.

       On cross-examination, Gonzalez testified that the street light, located in front of the

house, shone straight down, over the street. Gonzalez admitted that he lied when he testified in

front of the grand jury that he was not a member of a gang. On redirect examination, Gonzalez

explained that the light from the street light “fans out.” When the vehicle approached, and

Gonzalez was on the step, he bent down to see inside the vehicle. Gonzalez testified:

                “Right there when [the vehicle] stopped, you have the [street light]

                pole right there and it lit up. The lights from the other side light up

                this other half and he was right there, and I bent down and I saw his

                face dead in my face right there, and he upped that pistol at me.”

       Antoine Lacey testified that he was also known as Adam Torres; that he was currently

                                                   6
No. 1-07-0137

incarcerated due to felony convictions for aggravated assault and weapon possession by a felon;

that, in 2000, he was a member of the Latin Dragons and he resided at 8707 Escanaba in Chicago;

and that the rivals of the Latin Dragons in 2000 were the Latin Kings. On April 1, 2000, at

approximately 9 p.m., he was “hanging out” in front of 8707 Escanaba, with a group that included

Carlos Luna, Anna Campos, Camelia Prado, “Beto,” Joseph Gonzalez and Ricardo Vasquez.

Lacey testified that the victim, Vasquez, was “[o]ne of my gang-affiliated friends.” On April 1,

Lacey testified that he (Lacey) was either 17 or 18 years old.

       Lacey testified that at approximately 9:20 p.m., he was standing on the sidewalk; and that

it was dark, but the porchlight and the streetlights were on. Lacey observed “[a] blue short body

vehicle, maybe a Buick or Cadillac model coming from eastbound going west, make a left on

Escanaba.” The vehicle was “traveling 5 or 10 miles” per hour, and then it stopped, and

“everybody [says] who is that.” The vehicle contained two occupants, a driver and a passenger.

Lacey estimated that he was standing 12 to 13 feet away from the vehicle when he looked into it.

Carlos Luna “ran up to the car”; “he said who is that” and “they started firing shots.”

       Lacey testified that, prior to the shots, he had recognized the passenger in the vehicle.

Lacey testified “I seen him in the mall before.” The mall was the River Oaks Mall. After Lacey

recognized the passenger, the passenger started firing. Lacey identified defendant in court as the

passenger. Lacey testified that when defendant started firing, the driver moved back, and that

defendant was firing towards Carlos Luna. The gun was “[m]aybe like in front of the driver’s

face,” and the driver’s window was down. Lacey testified that while Luna “fell back,” he (Lacey)

“was in shock” and he kept looking at defendant. Lacey testified that he was located behind Luna

                                                 7
No. 1-07-0137

and that the vehicle was right in front of him. Lacey testified that he did not recall how many shot

were fired, and that there were “maybe like 5 or 6.”

       Lacey testified that after the shooting ceased, the vehicle “sideswiped a green van.”

Vasquez had been hit, and was “trying to catch his breath.” At some point, the police “said that

they had caught the shooter and they took us where they caught him at,” which was east 97th

Street and Ewing. Lacey traveled with Camelia Prado and Joseph Gonzalez to this location. First

Lacey identified a vehicle as the shooter’s vehicle and then identified defendant as the shooter.

During the identification process, the police “put the shooter in front of the car,” and “they turned

on the high beams, and they asked us if it was him.” At trial, Lacey identified photographs of the

crime scene and the shooter’s vehicle.

       On cross-examination, Lacey testified that he had previously provided a description of the

shooter to the police, in which he stated that the shooter was between 18 and 25 years old. He

did not recall whether he told the police that the shooter’s complexion was “unknown.” He did

not tell the police at the crime scene that he recognized the shooter from the mall, because he

answered only the questions posed to him. Lacey testified that during the shooting, he saw the

flashes from the gun.

       Officer Edward Maras of the Chicago police department testified that on April 1, 2000, he

was working in plain clothes and in an unmarked vehicle, when he received information over the

radio from his sergeant that a man had been shot near 8707 Escanaba and the suspects were “two

youthful Hispanics in a 4 door light gray or light blue Cadillac” with “some damage to the

passenger’s side of the vehicle.” At approximately 10:20 p.m., Officer Maras was in the vicinity

                                                  8
No. 1-07-0137

of 3650 East 97th Street, when he observed defendant “pulling up” alone in a vehicle that

matched the description of the shooter’s vehicle. Officer Maras and his two partners approached

defendant, and then Officer Maras called on the radio to the detectives in the case, to ask them to

bring the witnesses to defendant’s location. After the detectives transported the witnesses, the

witnesses identified the vehicle and the defendant in “a street showup.” Officer Maras explained:

“We placed the subject Rodriguez out in the open, illuminated him with the lights and flashlight so

he could be identified [and] so he wouldn’t be able to see the witnesses through the glare ***.”

Officer Maras testified that 3650 East 97th Street is approximately “a mile, maybe a little more”

from 8707 South Escanaba. Officer Maras identified photographs of the vehicle which depicted

damage to the passenger side.

       Prior to the testimony of Francisco Ortiz, the defense moved in limine to bar the State

from asking Ortiz whether defendant was a member of the Latin Kings. The trial court ruled that

if the defense “open[ed] the door,” then the court would permit the question about defendant’s

gang membership.

       Ortiz testified that he was currently incarcerated; that he had four felony convictions; and

that in April 2000, he was 15 years old and he had then known defendant for about a year. On

April 1, 2000, at approximately 10 a.m. or noon, defendant came to Ortiz’s home and asked if

Ortiz “wanted to go out” and if Ortiz had a gun. Ortiz testified that defendant stated he wanted a

gun because “he wanted to take care of some business, something about his car happening over

some Dragons.” Ortiz testified that defendant stated that some Latin Dragons had hit his vehicle

the night before, and dented the passenger side. Ortiz testified that defendant drove a “bluish

                                                 9
No. 1-07-0137

gray, bluish green” Buick or Cadillac, and Ortiz observed the damage. At trial, Ortiz identified

photographs of defendant and his vehicle.

       On cross-examination, Ortiz denied having told the police that, on April 1, 2000, he left

his home at 10:30 p.m. and that he observed defendant being stopped by the police. At trial, Ortiz

testified that he remained at home the entire evening.

       Scott Rochowicz, a forensic scientist with the Illinois State Police, testified that he had

tested the gunshot residue recovered from defendant’s hands on April 1, 2000. He testified that

his opinion, to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty, was that the level of residue found on

defendant’s hands was “consistent with” defendant “discharging a firearm, handling a firearm, or

being in close proximity to a firearm when it was discharged.” On cross-examination, Rochowicz

testified that it was “possible” that if a gun was fired close to a steering wheel, residue could be

deposited on the wheel, and if someone touched the wheel, the residue could be transferred to the

person’s hands. On redirect, he testified that “the probabilities are very slim” of receiving residue

from a steering wheel. Considering the results that he received in this particular case, he testified

“it would be an unlikely scenario.”

       Before the last witness, the trial court held the jury instruction conference, where the court

asked counsel to state their objections, if any, to the proposed instructions. Defense counsel

objected to two instructions which the trial court then withdrew.     With respect to the instruction

concerning eyewitness identification that is at issue on this appeal, the trial court and counsel had

the following colloquy:

                                                  10
No. 1-07-0137

                “THE COURT: People’s number 13 is IPI criminal 3.15.

                MR. MAYFIELD (defense counsel): No objection.

                THE COURT: Given.”

       Adrienne Segovia, a pathologist and deputy medical examiner with Cook County, testified

that she performed an autopsy on Ricardo Vasquez on April 2, 2000, and concluded that he died

from a bullet that pierced his arm, lungs and heart. She recovered the bullet from the body.

       The jury also received several stipulations. First, the parties stipulated that defendant was

arraigned on May 19, 2000, for the murder of Ricardo Vasquez, that defendant was released on

bond on June 4, 2001, that he failed to appear for his next scheduled court date, and that

defendant was apprehended on February 19, 2004. Second, the parties stipulated that a gunshot

residue kit was administered to defendant’s hands on April 1, 2000, at 11:40 p.m., and that there

was a proper chain of custody maintained over the kit at all times. Third, the parties stipulated

that, if Officer Gina Pelkey of the Chicago police department were called to testify, she would

state that she interviewed state witness Joseph Gonzalez and that her report described the

shooter’s complexion as unknown, his hair as short, dark and shaved, and his age as between 18

and 25 years old. Fourth, the parties also stipulated that, if Officer Angelo Pesavento of the

Chicago police department were called to testify, he would state that “he wrote in his

supplemental report that Francisco Ortiz and his brother Gabrielle Jalomos went outside on April

1, 2000, at 2230 hours and saw Daniel Rodriguez stopped by the police.”

       On September 21, 2005, the jury returned a verdict and found defendant guilty of the first-

degree murder of Ricardo Vasquez. The jury also found that defendant personally discharged the

                                                 11
No. 1-07-0137

firearm that proximately caused Vasquez’s death.

       On November 1, 2005, defendant filed two motions for a new trial. One motion sought a

new trial on the basis that state witness Francisco Ortiz had signed a statement in which he

recanted his trial testimony. The second motion made general allegations that the State’s

witnesses were impeached, that the state failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and that

defendant was denied due process of law. The trial court denied the motions for a new trial,

finding that Ortiz’s testimony in support of the motion was not credible.

       On December 28, 2006, the trial court sentenced defendant to 45 years of incarceration,

which was the minimum available sentence. The sentence included a 25-year enhancement for

discharging the firearm that proximately caused the victim’s death. The 45-year sentence runs

consecutively to another 20-year sentence, for an unrelated conviction for attempted first-degree

murder. This appeal followed.

                                             ANALYSIS

       On appeal, defendant claims, first, that the trial court abused its discretion by using a

certain portion of an Illinois pattern jury instruction; and second, that trial counsel was ineffective

for not moving to suppress show-up identifications of defendant. Defendant claims that social

science evidence indicates that part of Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions, Criminal, No. 3.15 (4th

ed. 2000) (IPI Criminal 4th) is based on a mistaken assumption, namely that an identification is

more credible if the witness is more certain. For the following reasons, we find that the trial court

did not abuse its discretion and that trial counsel was not ineffective.

                      (1) Jury Instruction Regarding Eyewitness Identification

                                                  12
No. 1-07-0137

        Defendant’s first claim on appeal is that the trial court abused its discretion by using a

portion of IPI Criminal 4th No. 315, because it was allegedly out-dated based on recent social

science research.

                                        (a) Standard of Review

        Before examining the substantive issue, we must ascertain the correct standard of review.

Defendant concedes in his appellate brief that he waived this issue for review, because his trial

counsel did not object to this instruction either at trial or in his posttrial motion. The Illinois

Supreme Court has held that a “defendant must both specifically object at trial and raise the

specific issue again in a posttrial motion to preserve any alleged error for review.” People v.

Woods, 214 Ill. 2d 455, 470 (2005); People v. Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d 551, 564 (2007).

        When a defendant has failed to preserve an error for review, we may still review for plain

error. Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d at 562-63 (“an unpreserved jury-instruction error is reviewed under

the plain error analysis”). “[T]he plain-error doctrine allows a reviewing court to consider

unpreserved error when (1) a clear or obvious error occurs and the evidence is so closely balanced

that the error alone threaten[s] to tip the scales of justice against the defendant, regardless of the

seriousness of the error, or (2) a clear or obvious error occurs and that error is so serious that it

affected the fairness of the defendant’s trial and challenged the integrity of the judicial process,

regardless of the closeness of the evidence.” Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d at 565; Woods, 214 Ill. 2d at

471. With plain error analysis, “it is the defendant who bears the burden of persuasion with

respect to prejudice.” Woods, 214 Ill. 2d at 471. However, in order to find plain error, we must

first find that the trial court committed some error. Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d at 564 (“the first step

                                                   13
No. 1-07-0137

is to determine whether error occurred”).

         We apply this plain-error review to an issue that already carries an abuse -of- discretion

standard of review. On appeal, a reviewing court will reverse a trial court’s determination about

what instructions to give, only if the trial court abused its discretion. Schultz v. Northeast Illinois

Regional Commuter R.R. Corp., 201 Ill. 2d 260, 273 (2002). When deciding whether a trial

court abused its discretion, a reviewing court will examine the jury instructions in their entirety, to

determine whether they fairly, fully and comprehensively informed the jury of the relevant law.

Schultz, 201 Ill. 2d at 273-74. An abuse of discretion occurs “only where the [trial court’s] ruling

is arbitrary, fanciful, or unreasonable, or where no reasonable person could take the view adopted

by the trial court.” People v. Purcell, 364 Ill. App. 3d 283, 293 (2006).

        Ordinarily, a reviewing court will not reverse a trial court, even if the trial court gave faulty

instructions, unless the instructions clearly misled the jury and resulted in prejudice to the

appellant. Schultz, 201 Ill. 2d at 274. Thus, even if defendant is correct that the instruction at

issue was faulty, we will not reverse unless the fault created prejudice.

                                         (b) Validity of Instruction

         Having established the correct standard of review, we can now proceed to examine the

substantive question, whether the trial court erred by using a portion of IPI Criminal 4th No.

3.15.

         The version of IPI Criminal No. 3.15, that was in effect in 2005, at the time of defendant’s

trial, 1 stated:

         1
             In 2003, two years prior to defendant’s trial, the IPI committee changed this instruction

                                                     14
No. 1-07-0137

                           “When you weigh the identification testimony of a witness,

                 you should consider all the facts and circumstances in evidence,

                 including, but not limited to, the following:

                           [1] The opportunity the witness had to view the offender at

                 the time of the offense.

                           [2] The witness’s degree of attention at the time of the

                 offense.

                           [3] The witness’s earlier description of the offender.

                           [4] The level of certainty shown by the witness when

                 confronting the defendant.

                           [5] The length of time between the offense and the

                 identification confrontation.” IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.15 (Supp.

                 2003).2

On appeal, defendant objects to the trial court’s decision to give the fourth factor: the certainty

shown by the witness.

to remove the bracketed “or”s between the factors. Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d at 562 n.1, citing IPI

Criminal 4th No. 3.15 (Supp. 2003). Our supreme court has ruled that giving IPI Criminal 4th

3.15 with the “or”s between the factors is error. People v. Herron 215 Ill. 2d 167, 191 (2005).
       2
           The trial court provided this instruction, without the bracketed numbers, to the jury in

both its written and oral jury instructions. In the written instructions, it is labeled as “People’s

Instruction No. 13.”

                                                     15
No. 1-07-0137

          Supreme court rules require trial courts to use those Illinois Pattern Jury Instructions that

are both (1) applicable to the facts and law of the case; and (2) correct statements of law.

Supreme Court Rule 451(a) states unequivocally that a trial court “shall” use “the Illinois Pattern

Jury Instruction[], Criminal (4th ed. 2000)” when it is “applicable in a criminal case, giving due

consideration to the facts and the governing law *** unless the court determines that it does not

accurately state the law.” 210 Ill. 2d R. 451 (a); Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d at 566 (prior version of

IPI Criminal 4th was not an accurate statement of the law, because it was internally inconsistent,

as previously worded). The use of the word “shall” in the rule makes clear that use of the IPI is

not optional, but mandatory. Ultsch v. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, 226 Ill. 2d 169, 179

(2007) (the use of the word “shall” indicates a mandatory requirement). Although pattern

instructions are not themselves law and are open to challenge if they are inaccurate statements of

the law, the instructions are mandatory, if applicable and accurate. Schultz, 201 Ill. 2d at 273;

Powers v. Illinois Central Gulf R.R. Co., 91 Ill. 2d 375, 385 (1982) (although mandated by

supreme court rule, IPI are open to legal challenge until “considered” and upheld by our supreme

court).

          Defendant does not argue either that IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.15 was inapplicable or that it

misstated Illinois law – nor could he. As for applicability, the IPI committee instructs trial courts

to “[g]ive this instruction when identification is an issue.” IPI Criminal 4th, No. 3.15, Committee

Note at 107. There is no dispute that identification was an issue.

          As for legality, our supreme court has held that the five factors listed in the instruction are

an accurate statement of the law “for assessing the reliability of identification testimony.”

                                                    16
No. 1-07-0137

Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d at 567. These factors are commonly known as the Biggers factors, and

were taken from a United States Supreme court case of the same name. Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d at

567 (the five factors listed in the instruction were taken from a United States Supreme Court

case), citing Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 199-200, 34 L. Ed. 2d 401, 411, 93 S. Ct. 375, 382

(1972). They are undisputedly the law in Illinois for the purpose of assessing the reliability of an

identification. People v. Jackson, 348 Ill. App. 3d 719, 739-40 (2004) (“This new instruction is in

accord with the well-settled principle that there are five factors that should be considered in

determining the reliability of identification evidence.”); Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d at 567 (the five

factors listed in the instruction are the same factors to be used to assess the reliability of an

eyewitness identification).

        Instead of trying to argue illegality or inapplicability, defendant argues that the fourth

factor listed in IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.15 is simply out of date, in light of recent social science

research. This instruction was created just eight years ago for the purpose of “help[ing] jurors

negotiate the hidden complexities of identification testimony.” Herron, 215 Ill. 2d at 190-91.

Defendant claims that recent research shows that the instruction, at least in part, does not serve its

purpose.

        In support of his claim, defendant cites this court’s recent decision in People v. Allen, 376

Ill. App. 3d 511 (2007). In Allen, this court stated that it was a “commonly accepted

misconception[]”3 that a witness’ level of certainty was well correlated to the accuracy of his or

        3
            Although these factors are called “commonly accepted” by some, they were listed in the

instruction because the IPI committee thought just the opposite – that the average juror might not

                                                   17
No. 1-07-0137

her identification. Allen, 376 Ill. App. 3d at 524, c.f. People v. Enis, 139 Ill. 2d 264, 288-89

(1990) (our supreme court used the word “‘misconception’” when describing this factor but first

put the word in quote marks). This court held that a defendant had a right to present eyewitness

expert testimony challenging this “misconception,” so long as the trial court found that the

testimony would assist the jury. Allen, 376 Ill. App. 3d at 524-25. This court held that a

defendant could challenge this factor, without identifying it as one of the Biggers factors. Allen,

376 Ill. App. 3d at 524-25.

        Attempting to build on Allen, the defendant in the case at bar is trying to knock out this

Biggers factor, not just for his case but for all time. Here’s the legal problem in a nutshell. On

the one hand, there is Allen, which says that a defendant can try to knock out this Biggers factor

with social science research, in his particular case. Allen, 376 Ill. App. 3d at 524-26. On the other

hand, there is a long line of cases holding that the Biggers factors, all five of them, are required,

when assessing the reliability of an identification. E.g. Jackson, 348 Ill. App. 3d at 739 (noting

“the well-settled principle that there are five factors that should be considered in determining the

reliability of identification evidence”).

        There is an easy way to reconcile Allen with the prior line of cases. Allen, 376 Ill. App. 3d

at 524-26. Although all five factors are generally required, the IPI permits a trial court to omit a

particular factor, if such an omission is warranted by the evidence in that individual case. When

be aware of these “hidden complexities of identification testimony.” Herron, 215 Ill. 2d at 190-

91.

                                                  18
No. 1-07-0137

the IPI committee added IPI Criminal 4th No. 315 to its pattern instructions, 4 the committee

stated that the trial judge should give only those “numbered paragraphs that are supported by the

evidence.” IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.15, Committee Note, at 107 (ed. 2000). In 2003, the IPI

committee added a paragraph to its notes to make crystal clear that the trial court could omit a

factor, based on the evidence presented in the case. The 2003 notes stated: “‘The jury should be

instructed on only the factors with any support in the evidence. Other factors should be

omitted.’” People v. Herron, 215 Ill. 2d 167, 191 (2005), quoting IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.15,

Committee Note, at 2 (Supp. 2003).

       Thus, a trial court may omit one of the Biggers factors listed in IPI Criminal 4th No. 315

based on the “evidence,” and the “evidence” may include the kind of social science evidence

proposed in Allen. Allen, 376 Ill. App. 3d at 524 (describing the expert’s proposed testimony).

For example, if the defendant in the case at bar had introduced into evidence the testimony of an

expert in eyewitness identification research,5 the trial court may have chosen, based on the

evidence presented in the case, to omit one of the listed factors. 6 Allen, 376 Ill. App. 3d at 526

       4
           Instruction No. 3.15 was added in 2000 by the fourth edition of the pattern instructions.

IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.15, Committee Note, at 2 (Supp. 2006) (noting that this instruction was

added in the fourth edition).
       5
           Any proposed expert testimony would be subject to the normal “scrutiny” of reliability,

relevance and whether it assisted the jury. Allen, 376 Ill. App. 3d at 525-26.
       6
           The trial judge in the case at bar, the Honorable Bertina E. Lampkin, would have been

particularly well-suited to hear this argument, since she was on the IPI committee in 2000 when

                                                   19
No. 1-07-0137

(this court reversed defendant’s conviction because the trial court refused the proposed testimony

of an eyewitness identification expert without first conducting “a meaningful inquiry” into its

relevance); W. Wolfson, “That’s the Man!” Well, Maybe Not: The Case for Eyewitness

Identification Expert Testimony, 26 A.B.A. Sec. Litig. J. 5, 6 (Winter 2000) (noting that there are

“behavioral scientists who are prepared to say” that there is little or no correlation between the

witness’ certainty and the accuracy of his or her identification). But see People v. Enis, 139 Ill.

2d 264, 289 (1990) (“So-called experts can usually be obtained to support most any position. ***

We are concerned with the reliability of eyewitness expert testimony***.”). However, no such

evidence was offered at this trial.

        On appeal, defendant argues that the trial court, without any contrary evidence before it,

should have acted on its own initiative to omit the fourth factor. The irony, of course, is that if

the trial court had done just that, defendant could have filed an appeal claiming that the

spontaneous omission of the fourth factor prejudiced him. People v. Houston, 229 Ill. 2d 1, 10

(2008) (on appeal, defendant claimed that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request

IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.15); Jackson, 348 Ill. App. 3d at 739 (“five factors *** should be

considered in determining the reliability of identification evidence.”).

        There is also an argument to be made that the fourth factor of IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.15

concerns only the witness’s level of certainty at the initial identification, and that the social science

research targets primarily the witness’ level of certainty while testifying at trial, and thus the latter

the committee adopted this instruction, and she subsequently became its chairperson of the

committee. IPI Criminal 4th, p. v (2000 and Supp. 2006).

                                                   20
No. 1-07-0137

cannot be used to disparage the former. People v. Smith, 299 Ill. App. 3d 1056, 1062 (1998)

(considering only the witness’ level of certainty at the initial identification); C. Mayer, Due

Process Challenges to Eyewitness Identification Based on Pretrial Photographic Arrays, 13 Pace

L. Rev. 815, 845 (1994) (“studies have indicated that juries are highly influenced by a confident

witness”). Expert testimony may dispel the mythology that a witness’ performance on the

witness stand is correlated to the accuracy of his or her identification. Allen, 376 Ill. App. 3d at

526 (prosecutor capitalized on witness’ “apparent confidence on the witness stand” during closing

argument). However, while the drafters of IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.15 may have intended this

factor to refer only to the initial identification, there is no question that courts, including our own

supreme court, have considered the witness’ certainty at trial, when applying this factor.

Piatokowski, 225 Ill. 2d at 569 (noting that the witness’ identification was “unequivocal” at “a

photo array, a lineup and again at trial”); People v. Simpson, 172 Ill. 2d 117, 142 (1996) (noting

the witness’ certainty both at the lineup and “in court”). Still, this argument lends support to our

conclusion. Even if we took the position that the fourth factor of Criminal 4th No. IPI 3.15 has

nothing to do with the level of confidence shown by the witness at trial, it would not change our

conclusion. Admittedly, the fourth factor could and should be more precisely drawn to avoid the

confusion we see in this case. But that does not change the conclusions reached by the too-often

ignored scientific research into eyewitness identification.

        On appeal, defendant claims, not that the fourth factor is against the law, but that it is

against “the wide body of social research and developing law around the country.” See Smith v.

Marvin, 377 Ill. App. 3d 562, 567-68 (2007) (where instruction was an accurate statement of the

                                                  21
No. 1-07-0137

law, defendants cannot establish prejudice requiring a new trial). In essence, defendant argues that

the trial court should have sua sponte redrafted the instruction, in light of “social research” and

changes in other legal forums.

       In Illinois, the job of drafting pattern jury instructions was not given to the trial courts or

the appellate courts. IPI Civil, at xxiv-xxv (ed. 2006). Our supreme court gave that job to the

Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions, and required its lower courts to

use the pattern instructions, unless the committee failed to state “the law” accurately. 210 Ill. 2d

R. 451(a); IPI Civil, at xix (ed. 2006). Even if Illinois judges believe they could do a better job

than the committee, they should still use the pattern instruction, unless it is not an accurate

statement of the law in Illinois. 210 Ill. 2d R. 451(a); Torres v. Irving Press, Inc., 303 Ill. App. 3d

151, 157-58 (1999) (rejecting a court’s attempt to improve on the word “disability” in the pattern

jury instruction by substituting the phrase “loss of normal life”).

       The state appellate defender, who represents defendant in this appeal, is trying to eliminate

this Biggers factor from IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.15, for all time. This factor does not always

favor the prosecution (or the defense, for that matter.) Compare Houston, 229 Ill. 2d at 10

(state appellate defender argued that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to request IPI

Criminal 4th No. 3.15), with People v. McGee, 373 Ill. App. 3d 824, 836 (2007) (state appellate

defender argued that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to IPI Criminal 4th No.

3.15). In the case at bar, one could argue that this factor helped the defense, because two of the

four eyewitnesses testifying at trial were certain that they could not identify the defendant.

                                                  22
No. 1-07-0137

       Whether this factor favors one side or the other turns on the individual facts of the case.

In the next case, the defense may very well need this factor to challenge an identification. McGee,

373 Ill. App. 3d at 836 (finding that IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.15 “could help a defendant” and could

be a part of a defendant’s “sound trial strategy”). Certainly, if a state witness wavered on the

stand when confronted with the defendant, that would be a factor that the defense would want

highlighted in the jury instructions. The wiser course is to decide this issue on a case-by-case

basis, as both Allen and the IPI committee encourage the trial court to do. Allen, 376 Ill. App.

3d at 524-26; IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.15, Committee Note, at 2 (Supp. 2006). See also Enis, 139

Ill. 2d at 289-90 (endorsing a case-by-case approach to admitting eyewitness expert testimony

about the correlation between a witness’ certainty and the accuracy of his or her identification);

People v. Tisdel, 338 Ill. App. 3d 465, 468 (2003) (“a trial court’s decision to allow or exclude

eyewitness identification expert testimony must be made on a case-by-case basis’).

       In sum, we cannot find that the trial court abused its discretion when, without any

conflicting evidence, it chose to use all the factors listed in IPI Criminal 4th No. 315. Enis, 139

Ill. 2d at 289 (trial court’s exclusion of expert testimony, even if reliable and relevant, concerning

only the factor of witness certainty was not enough, by itself, to constitute an abuse of discretion).

Since we find no error, we do not need to engage in a plain error analysis.

                            (2) Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claim

       Defendant’s second claim on appeal is that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to

file a motion to suppress two show-up identifications. In his reply brief, defendant added that

counsel was also ineffective for failing to object to the use of the fourth factor in IPI Criminal 4th

                                                  23
No. 1-07-0137

No. 3.15.

       The contested show-up identifications occurred at the location where Officer Maras first

observed defendant, approximately a mile from the shooting, and at approximately 10:20 p.m., an

hour after the shooting.7 Three eyewitnesses sat in the back of a police vehicle, while defendant

stood in the street illuminated by a flashlight and vehicle lights. Two of the witnesses identified

defendant as the shooter, while one could not make an identification.

       The Illinois Supreme Court has held that, to determine whether a defendant was denied his

or her right to effective assistance of counsel, an appellate court must apply the two-prong test set

forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 80 L. Ed. 2d 76,h 104 S. Ct. 2052 (1984).

People v. Colon, 225 Ill. 2d 125, 135 (2007), citing People v. Albanese, 104 Ill. 2d 504 (1984)

(adopting Strickland). Under Strickland, a defendant must prove both that (1) counsel’s

performance was deficient, and (2) the deficient performance prejudiced the defense. Colon, 225

Ill. 2d at 135; People v. Evans, 209 Ill. 2d 194, 219-20 (2004); Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687, 80 L.

Ed. 2d at 693, 104 S. Ct. at 2064.

       Under the first prong of the Strickland test, the defendant must prove that his counsel’s

performance fell below an objective standard of reasonableness “under prevailing professional

norms.” Colon, 225 Ill. 2d at 135; Evans, 209 Ill. 2d at 220.

       Under the second prong, the defendant must show that, “but for” counsel’s deficient

performance, there is a reasonable probability that the result of the proceeding would have been

different. Colon, 225 Ill. 2d at 135; Evans, 209 Ill. 2d at 220. “[A] reasonable probability that the

       7
           Officer Maras testified that he first observed defendant at approximately 10:20 p.m.

                                                  24
No. 1-07-0137

result would have been different is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome

– or put another way, that counsel’s deficient performance rendered the result of the trial

unreliable or fundamentally unfair.” Evans, 209 Ill. 2d at 220; Colon, 225 Ill. 2d at 135. To

prevail, the defendant must satisfy both prongs of the Strickland test. Colon, 225 Ill. 2d at 135;

Evans, 209 Ill. 2d at 220.

        First, defense counsel’s alleged failure to object to the fourth factor in IPI Criminal 4th

No. 3.15 did not cause his performance to fall below “prevailing professional norms.” Colon, 225

Ill. 2d at 135; Evans, 209 Ill. 2d at 220. “Decisions concerning defense counsel’s choice of jury

instructions are characterized as tactical decisions within the judgment of defense counsel.”

Houston, 363 Ill. App. 3d at 575. “Trial strategy cannot be a basis for finding counsel ineffective.”

Houston, 363 Ill. App. 3d at 575. In the case at bar, trial counsel chose to argue in his closing to

the jurors that they should rely on “the things” in IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.15 when evaluating the

eyewitness testimony. McGee, 373 Ill. App. 3d at 837 (although defendant claimed on appeal

that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to object to IPI Criminal No. 4th 3.15, this court

found that counsel’s use of the instruction during his closing indicated that the instruction was

part of his trial strategy). As previously noted, two of the four eyewitnesses testifying at trial

were certain that they could not identify defendant.

        Failure to request a particular jury instruction may be grounds for finding ineffective

assistance of counsel, only if the instruction was so “critical” to the defense that its omission

“den[ied] the right of the accused to a fair trial.” People v. Pegram, 124 Ill. 2d 166, 174 (1988);

People v. Pollards, 367 Ill. App. 3d 17, 23 (2006). Our supreme court has held that a new trial

                                                  25
No. 1-07-0137

was not warranted when a trial court excluded defense evidence trying to knock out “this factor

alone,” even assuming that the evidence was reliable and relevant. Enis, 139 Ill. 2d at 289

(referring to the correlation between witness certainty and the accuracy of the identification).

Thus, inclusion of “this factor alone” cannot have been so critical as to deny defendant the right to

a fair trial. Enis, 139 Ill. 2d at 289.

        Second, even if defense counsel had moved to suppress the show-up identifications, it is

not reasonably probable that the motion would have been granted. “In order to establish

prejudice resulting from failure to file a motion to suppress, a defendant must show a reasonable

probability that: (1) the motion would have been granted, and (2) the outcome of the trial would

have been different had the evidence been suppressed.” People v. Bew, 228 Ill. 2d 122, 128-29

(2008) (reviewing a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel), quoting People v. Patterson, 217

Ill. 2d 407, 438 (2005).

        The show-up identifications would not have been suppressed, because they were not

unnecessarily suggestive. Normally, the jury decides the weight that an identification deserves;

and the less reliable the jury finds the identification to be, the less weight the jury will give it.

People v. Ramos, 339 Ill. App. 3d 891, 897 (2003). However, sometimes an identification is so

“unnecessarily suggestive” that the due process clause prevents it from ever reaching the jury.

Ramos, 339 Ill. App. 3d at 897 (discussing U.S. Const., amend. XIV).

        When ruling on a motion to suppress a show-up under the due process clause, a trial court

conducts a two-part inquiry. Ramos, 339 Ill. App. 3d at 897. “First, the defendant must prove

that the confrontation was so unnecessarily suggestive and conducive to irreparable

                                                    26
No. 1-07-0137

misidentification that he was denied due process of law.” Ramos, 339 Ill. App. 3d at 897. If the

defendant satisfies this burden, then the burden switches to the State to prove that the

identification was “independently reliable.” Ramos, 339 Ill. App. 3d at 897. The factors used to

measure reliability are the same five factors listed in IPI Criminal 4th 3.15. Ramos, 339 Ill. App.

3d at 897-98 (describing the factors).

       To satisfy his burden, defendant claims on appeal that the show-up procedure was

unnecessary, because the police could have conducted a line-up instead.        By placing ourselves

in the shoes of the reasonable police officer, we can see that a show-up was not ‘unnecessary.’

What options did Officer Maras have open to him, when he spotted a vehicle that matched the

description of the shooter’s vehicle, as relayed over the police radio?8 At that moment, Officer

Maras had the reasonable suspicion required for a brief investigative detention, commonly known

as a Terry stop. People v. Lippert, 89 Ill. 2d 171, 182 (1982), discussing Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S.

1, 20 L. Ed. 2d 889, 88 S. Ct. 1868 (1968). He could detain the suspect long enough to confirm

or dispel his suspicions. Lippert, 89 Ill. 2d at 182 (the need to dispel suspicion during a Terry stop

“might require *** detention until witnesses could arrive who might provide positive

identification”). However, he may have been concerned that his information did not rise to the

level of the probable cause9 required for a full custodial arrest. Lippert, 89 Ill. 2d at 182 (“The

       8
           Officer Maras testified that he received information “on the radio from [his] sergeant”

that there had been a shooting nearby involving “two male Hispanics in a 4 door light gray or light

blue Cadillac” with “some damage to the passenger side of the vehicle.”
       9
           “Probable cause for arrest exists when facts and circumstances within the arresting

                                                   27
No. 1-07-0137

line of demarcation between a legitimate seizure of a suspect on less than probable cause in a

Terry stop and an impermissible seizure tantamount to a full-blown arrest *** is not completely

clear.”). If, at that moment, Officer Maras had handcuffed defendant, and transported him in a

police vehicle to a police station, and held him in custody for the length of time required to

arrange a line-up, defendant would have argued on appeal that the officer’s actions qualified as an

arrest, that the officer lacked probable cause, and that the results of the line-up should have been

suppressed.

        Balancing the dictates of the fourth amendment against the need for reliable

identifications, the Illinois Supreme Court has held that “prompt showups near the scene of the

crime” can be proper police procedure, under certain circumstances. Lippert, 89 Ill. 2d at 181-84,

188, cited in Ramos, 339 Ill. App. 3d at 897. While show-ups are disfavored, they may be

justified by circumstances, such as the need to determine (1) whether a suspect is innocent and

should be released immediately; and (2) whether the police should continue searching for a fleeing

culprit while the trail is still fresh. Ramos, 339 Ill. App. 3d at 897, quoting People v. Hicks, 134

Ill. App. 3d 1031, 1036 (1985); Lippert, 89 Ill. 2d at 188.

        Defendant claims that neither of these justifications for a show-up applied in his case

because (1) the police would not have released him, even if the witnesses had cleared him,

because he was guilty of driving a motor vehicle as a 15-year old; and (2) the driver of the

officer’s knowledge are sufficient to warrant a man of reasonable caution in believing that an

offense has been committed and that the person arrested has committed the offense.” Lippert, 89

Ill. 2d at 178.

                                                 28
No. 1-07-0137

shooter’s vehicle was still at large, thus requiring the search to continue.

       As to his first contention, the trial court ruled that no evidence had been introduced to

establish defendant’s age. When defense counsel tried to argue in closing that defendant was only

15 years old, the trial court sustained the State’s objection stating that “[t]here is no evidence in

this record of the age of the defendant at the time of this offense.” The record on appeal contains

an arrest report with defendant’s birth date. However, defendant does not point to any evidence

in the record showing that, prior to the show-up, the police knew defendant’s age.

       As to his second contention, although the driver of the shooter’s vehicle was still at large,

the police may have chosen, in their discretion and considering limited law enforcement resources,

to suspend the search for a less culpable accomplice, once the murderer had been identified by

eyewitnesses.

       Defendant also claims that the procedure was unnecessarily suggestive because (1) the

police told the witnesses, prior to the identification, that the shooter had been found;10 (2) the

police shined a light on defendant during the identification; and (3) the police did not separate the

witnesses.

       First, if a show-up could be invalidated on the ground that the police indicated that they

had found a suspect, then no show-up could pass muster; and our supreme court has already held

that a show-up can be a proper police procedure. Lippert, 89 Ill. 2d at 188. In support of his

       10
            Antoine Lacy, one of the eyewitnesses who identified defendant during the show-up,

testified that “[t]hey said that they had caught the shooter and they took us where they had caught

him at.”

                                                  29
No. 1-07-0137

contention that police statements invalidated the show-up, defendant cites two cases: People v.

Kennard 204 Ill. App. 3d 641 (1990); and People v. Lee, 44 Ill. 2d 161 (1969). In Kennard, this

court held that a show-up was unnecessarily suggestive, but we did not state why, because we

went on to hold that the show-up was “sufficiently reliable to be admissible.” Kennard, 204 Ill.

App. 3d at 652. Defendant claims that the show-up in Kennard was unnecessarily suggestive,

because a store security guard told the witness: “Come over here. I think I got the guy who

robbed you.” Kennard, 204 Ill. App. 3d at 646. However, the reason for the Kennard holding

could just as easily have been the fact that the show-up occurred while the Kennard defendant

was sitting in custody, in the back of a police squad vehicle. Kennard, 204 Ill. App. 3d at 651.

        In Lee, the second case cited by defendant, our supreme court held that a show-up was

unnecessarily suggestive, where the defendant had already been in police custody for over a

month, and where the witnesses viewed the defendant while he was handcuffed to a person whom

these same witnesses had previously identified in a lineup as a perpetrator of the crime. Lee, 44

Ill. 2d at 167-69. The facts in our case are radically different from the facts in Lee. In the case at

bar, only an hour had elapsed since the crime, and the police were in hot pursuit of a fleeing

murderer. People v. Thorne 352 Ill. App. 3d 1062, 1077 (2004) (a show-up near the crime scene,

a short time after the robbery occurred, was proper because officers were “in hot pursuit”). In

addition, defendant was not handcuffed to an already identified perpetrator. Thus, the holding in

Lee has little bearing on the case at bar.

        Defendant also claims that the lighting and the simultaneous viewing by the eyewitnesses

invalidated the show-up. In support of these two claims, defendant cites only a trial-court opinion

                                                  30
No. 1-07-0137

from New York. Jones v. West, 473 F. Supp. 2d 390, 418 (W.D.N.Y.). However, the Illinois

Appellate Court recently upheld a similar procedure, where two eyewitnesses simultaneously

identified suspects, upon whom police shined the lights of their squad car. Ramos, 339 Ill. App.

3d at 898.

        In the case at bar, the lighting was a necessary part of the procedure to ensure that the

eyewitnesses had adequate lighting to make a reliable identification at night, and to ensure that the

suspect would not be able to see the witnesses through the glare. Officer Maras testified that the

police “had illuminated [defendant] with the lights and the flashlight so he could be identified

[and] so he wouldn’t be able to see the witnesses through the glare.” In Ramos, where police

shined the lights of their vehicle on the suspect, this court noted approvingly that the police had

ensured that the identification was made “in adequate lighting.” Ramos, 339 Ill. App. 3d at 898.

Thus, the lighting was not ‘unnecessary.’

       While a separate viewing would have been the better practice, the simultaneous viewing,

by itself, was not enough, on the particular facts of this case, to find that this particular show-up

was unnecessarily suggestive. Three witnesses went to the location where defendant was

originally stopped by Officer Maras. They were Camelia Prado, Joseph Gonzalez and Antoine

Lacy. Prado testified that she was not able to identify defendant as the shooter, while Gonzalez

and Lacey testified that they could identify defendant. If defendant’s argument is that one of the

identifying witnesses might have felt pressured to identify because another witness was also

identifying defendant, then he would have felt equally pressured not to identify, because one of

the witnesses also chose not to identify. Since any alleged pressure cut both ways, it drops out as

                                                  31
No. 1-07-0137

an issue on the facts of this case.

        Since defendant has failed to show that the show-up was “unnecessarily suggestive, we do

not need to proceed to the second step of the due process analysis. We cannot find that

counsel’s performance was deficient due to the absence of a motion to suppress, when the motion

would have failed on the first step.

                                           CONCLUSION

        For the foregoing reasons, we affirm defendant’s conviction. First, the trial court did not

abuse its discretion by choosing to use all five factors listed in IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.15.

Second, the absence of a motion to suppress two show-up identifications and the absence of an

objection to the fourth factor of IPI Criminal 4th No. 3.15 did not cause defense counsel’s trial

performance to sink to the level of

constitutional ineffectiveness.

        Affirmed.

        WOLFSON and HALL, JJ., concur.

                                                  32