Bedford v. State

443 A.2d 78, 293 Md. 172, 29 A.L.R. 4th 91, 1982 Md. LEXIS 235

• Court: Court of Appeals of Maryland
• Decided: March 24, 1982
• Docket: [No. 75, September Term, 1981.]
• Status: Published

Opinions

Smith, J.,

delivered the opinion of the Court. Eldridge, Cole and Davidson, JJ., dissent. Eldridge, J., filed a dissenting opinion at page 185 infra, in which Cole and Davidson, JJ., concur.

At issue in this case is whether the extrajudicial identification of an individual’s photograph by two victims as that of the culprit who robbed them will support a rational inference of the criminal agency of the accused, notwithstanding the fact that neither of them was able to identify him in court. We hold that it does. Thus, we shall affirm the judgment of the Court of Special Appeals contained in an unreported opinion. We shall decline the request of the petitioner, Robert Bedford, Jr., that we adopt the standard laid down in People v. Gould, 54 Cal. 2d 621, 354 P.2d 865, 7 Cal. Rptr. 273 (1960), heretofore rejected by the Court of Special Appeals in Cousins v. State, 18 Md. App. 552, 556-59, 308 A.2d 692, cert. denied, 270 Md. 738 (1973).

The facts here may be briefly stated. Petitioner was convicted by a Baltimore County jury on a number of charges, including two of robbery with a dangerous and deadly weapon and one of daytime housebreaking. The Court of Special Appeals affirmed. We granted the writ of certiorari in order that we might review the identification problem.

The incident in question took place shortly after noon on September 24, 1979. The victims, George and Grace Heinmuller, aged eighty and seventy-seven, respectively, returned home from shopping. They were confronted by an individual in their dining room "with his right arm raised and a hatchet in his hand.” He struck, robbed, bound and gagged them, leaving them in a bedroom in their home while he ransacked the house. The culprit appears to have been in the home an hour or longer and within the view of the victims for about half an hour. He wiped off fingerprints prior to his departure from the house.

The victims provided a description of the accused. That evening they were met by detectives of the Baltimore County Police Department at the home of a neighbor who had insisted "that the[ir] house was in no condition to stay in, and [they] were in no condition to stay there with the door all torn off and that sort of thing ....” They assisted a detective in preparing a composite picture of the assailant. Subsequent to this, each victim, independently of the other, viewed six photographs. Each, independently of the other and out of the presence of the other, selected a photograph of Bedford and indicated that he was the individual who had robbed them.

Since the victims were unable to identify the accused at a hearing on a motion to suppress identification evidence, they were not asked to attempt an identification in the presence of the jury at trial in February 1980. However, evidence as to their pretrial identification of the accused was presented.

As is so often the case, Bedford presented an alibi defense. It is claimed that under the decision in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979), the conviction here cannot stand. Reliance is particularly placed upon People v. Gould, supra, where the California Supreme Court held that an extrajudicial identification that cannot be confirmed by identification at trial is insufficient to sustain a conviction in the absence of other evidence tending to connect the defendant with the crime.

First, we point out that Jackson and its holding that an accused "is entitled to habeas corpus relief if it is found that upon the record evidence adduced at the trial no rational trier of fact could have found proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt,” 443 U.S. at 324, in no way changed the standard in effect in Maryland. In Williams and McClelland v. State, 5 Md. App. 450, 247 A.2d 731 (1968), cert. denied, 252 Md. 731, 734 (1969), Judge Orth carefully reviewed for the Court of Special Appeals a number of the prior cases of this Court such as Gibson v. State, 238 Md. 414, 209 A.2d 242 (1965); Shelton v. State, 198 Md. 405, 84 A.2d 76 (1951); Edwards v. State, 198 Md. 132, 81 A.2d 631, 83 A.2d 578 (1951); and Lambert v. State, 196 Md. 57, 75 A.2d 327 (1950). All of those cases arose subsequent to the constitutional amendment now embodied in Maryland Declaration of Rights, Art. 23 which provides that a trial court "may pass upon the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a conviction,” and, hence, that this was open to appellate review. Judge Orth then said for the Court of Special Appeals:

"Once the question of the sufficiency of the evidence is properly before us, we believe that the criteria used to determine the question is the same, be the verdict rendered by the court or a jury. Whether the test applicable to jury cases is stated in the affirmative — the judgment will be affirmed if there is any relevant evidence before the jury to sustain a conviction — or in the negative — to overturn a judgment there must be no legally sufficient evidence on which the defendant could be found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt — it is inherent that to be sufficient in law to justify the conviction within the intent of [Code (1957, 1967 Repl. Vol., 1967 Cum. Supp.)] Art. 27, § 593 the admissible evidence adduced must show directly or support a rational inference of the facts to be proved, from which the jury could fairly be convinced, beyond a reasonable doubt, of the defendant’s guilt of the offense charged.” 5 Md. App. at 458-59 (emphasis added).

Applying this standard under Jackson, 443 U.S. 307, Chief Judge Murphy said for the Court in State v. Rusk, 289 Md. 230, 240, 424 A.2d 720 (1981), "The applicable standard is 'whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.’ 443 U.S. at 319 (emphasis in original).” Accord, Tichnell v. State, 287 Md. 695, 717, 415 A.2d 830 (1980).¹

As pointed out by Justice Hennessey for the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in Commonwealth v. Swenson, 368 Mass. 268, 272, 331 N.E.2d 893 (1975), an extrajudicial identification made by a witness may be offered in evidence for three possible purposes: (1) for corroboration; (2) for impeachment; or (3) as substantive evidence of an identification, having probative value. In Johnson v. State, 237 Md. 283, 206 A.2d 138 (1965), this Court was presented with the issue of whether testimony concerning an extrajudicial identification might be received as substantive evidence. There identification was made at a lineup. Judge Horney said for the Court:

"We hold therefore that where, as here, the identifying victims or eyewitnesses were present and subject to cross-examination, the testimony of the police officer as to the extrajudicial identifications was admissible.

"Even where witnesses do not make a courtroom identification of the indictees, an extrajudicial identification is admissible as evidence over an objection that it is not the best evidence. State v. Simmons, 385 P.2d 389 (Wash. 1963). We note that the Simmons case cited Judy v. State, [218 Md. 168, 146 A.2d 29 (1958)], for the proposition that the first identification is usually the best identification. For other cases that have admitted evidence of extrajudicial identifications even where no positive courtroom identification was made, see People v. Gould, 354 P.2d 865 (Cal. 1960) and State v. Wilson, 231 P.2d 288 (Wash. 1951), cert. den. 342 U.S. 855 (1951) and 343 U.S. 950 (1952).” 237 Md. at 291.

Whether one speaks in terms of a lineup or a photographic identification, the principle is the same.

The rationale for admitting evidence of an extrajudicial identification as substantive evidence of identity was articulated by Justice Traynor for the Supreme Court of California in Gould, the case upon which the petitioner places major reliance. Gould’s contention there was that the victim "did not identify him at the trial and that evidence of an extrajudicial identification is admissible only to corroborate an identification made at the trial by the same witness.” There was evidence that the complaining witness was shown a number of pictures a short time after the incident and that she selected a photograph of Gould as being that of one of the culprits involved. Justice Traynor said for the Supreme Court of California in rejecting Gould’s contention:

"Evidence of an extrajudicial identification is admissible, not only to corroborate an identification made at the trial (People v. Slobodion, 31 Cal.2d 555, 560 [191 P.2d 1]), but as independent evidence of identity. Unlike other testimony that cannot be corroborated by proof of prior consistent statements unless it is first impeached (People v. Hardenbrook, 48 Cal.2d 345, 351 [309 P.2d 424]; People v. Kynette, 15 Cal.2d 731, 753-754 [104 P.2d 794]), evidence of an extrajudicial identification is admitted regardless of whether the testimonial identification is impeached, because the earlier identification has greater probative value than an identification made in the courtroom after the suggestions of others and the circumstances of the trial may have intervened to create a fancied recognition in the witness’ mind. (People v. Slobodion, 31 Cal.2d 555, 559-560 [191 P.2d 1]; United States v. Forzano, 190 F.2d 687, 689; see People v. Hood, 140 Cal.App.2d 585, 588 [295 P.2d 525]; People v. Bennett, 119 Cal.App.2d 224, 226 [259 P.2d 476]; 4 Wigmore, Evidence (3d ed. 1940), § 1130, p. 208.) The failure of the witness to repeat the extrajudicial identification in court does not destroy its probative value, for such failure may be explained by loss of memory or other circumstances. The extrajudicial identification tends to connect the defendant with the crime, and the principal danger of admitting hearsay evidence is not present since the witness is available at the trial for cross-examination. (See Judy v. State, 218 Md. 168, 174-175 [146 A.2d 29, 32-33]; McCormick, Evidence, § 39, p. 74; Morgan, Hearsay Dangers, 62 Harv.L.Rev. 177, 192-193; 3 Wigmore, Evidence (3d ed. 1940), § 1018, pp. 687-688. See also State v. Wilson, 38 Wn.2d 593, 617-618 [231 P.2d 288, 300-301]; People v. Spinello, 303 N.Y. 193, 201-202 [101 N.E.2d 457, 460-461].)” 54 Cal.2d at 626-27.

The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts also explained in Commonwealth v. Torres, 367 Mass. 737, 327 N.E.2d 871 (1975):

"A pre-trial identification is regarded as having equal or greater testimonial value than one made in court because the circumstances of the earlier identification often were less suggestive and because that identification occurred closer to the time of the offense.

"Even if the witness does not identify the defendant in his or her testimony at trial, any pre-trial identification of the defendant by that witness in constitutionally proper circumstances should be given probative value. See Clemons v. United States, 408 F. 2d 1230, 1242-1243 (D. C. Cir. 1968), cert. den. 394 U. S. 964 (1969); Wigmore, Evidence (Chadbourn rev.) § 1130 (1972). Although the probative value of any evidence of such identification is for the jury, that evidence, if believed, tends to prove that the defendant was the perpetrator of the crime. The trend of decisions is to permit such evidence to be introduced. See Gilbert v. California, 388 U. S. 263, 272, n. 3 (1967). We join in that view and do not understand the defendant to argue otherwise.” 367 Mass, at 739.

Later, in Swenson, 368 Mass, at 272 n.3, Justice Hennessey referred for the court to Torres and its statement that the trend of the decisions is to permit evidence of an extrajudicial identification to be introduced with independent probative value. He then said for the court, "That result seems reasonable, particularly where the witness, because of the time lapse before trial, is unable to make an in-court identification but clearly recollects having positively identified the defendant earlier.” 368 Mass, at 272 n.3.

In this case, the victims were present at trial and testified. The petitioner concedes that under our holding in Johnson, the testimony concerning each victim’s selection of the petitioner’s photograph as that of the culprit "constitutes admissible evidence of his criminal agency.”

Gould is the only decision of a court of last resort which either the parties or the Court have been able to locate holding that an extrajudicial photographic identification is insufficient evidence of criminal agency to warrant conviction. Two individuals were involved in that case. We have earlier alluded to the California court’s rejection of Gould’s contentions. In his case an officer testified that upon Gould’s arrest, he first denied knowledge of any burglary at the location in question. After being told, however, that an eyewitness had identified him, Gould said, "I know what you are talking about.” Marudas, the other defendant involved there, denied any knowledge of the burglary. He claimed that the evidence tending to identify him as the other culprit was insufficient to sustain his conviction. The court there said:

"An extrajudicial identification that cannot be confirmed by an identification at the trial is insufficient to sustain a conviction in the absence of other evidence tending to connect the defendant with the crime. (See Reamer v. United States, 229 F.2d 884, 886.) Moreover, the probative value of an identification depends on the circumstances under which it was made. Mrs. Fenwick merely selected one of a small group of photographs. The small size of the group increased the danger of suggestion. (See 3 Wigmore, Evidence (3d ed. 1940), § 786a, p. 164.) Identification from a still photograph is substantially less reliable than identification of an individual seen in person. (See, id., pp. 165-166.) It becomes particularly suspect when, as in the present case, the witness subsequently fails to identify the subject of the photograph when seen in person and there is no other evidence tending to identify him.” 54 Cal. 2d at 631.²

The Superior Court of Pennsylvania has adopted the Gould view, however, without citation of it. See Commonwealth v. Grillasco, 272 Pa. Super. Ct. 365, 415 A.2d 1241 (1979), and Commonwealth v. Farrington, 219 Pa. Super. Ct. 104, 280 A.2d 623 (1971). Cf. Commonwealth v. Boone, 429 A.2d 689, 691 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1981). We neither have found nor have been referred to a decision of any other intermediate appellate court adopting the Gould rule.

As previously noted, in Cousins, 18 Md. App. at 556-59, the court declined to adopt the Gould rule. Judge Thompson noted for the court "that the authority relied on by the [California] court, Reamer v. United States, [229 F.2d 884 (6th Cir. 1956)], was a case where a masked bandit was identified only by his voice, not by his appearance.” The Court of Special Appeals in Cousins correctly stated that which took place in Reamer. The court in Reamer summarized the situation:

"Two women in a critical position saw an armed man facing them for a few seconds, did not see his face, could not tell the color of his eyes, and heard a voice they had never heard before. They were asked, two months later, to see if they could identify the appellant in a police lineup. ... No feature was identified, or identifiable, except the voice. That was testified to as being 'reassuring’; but so were the words themselves reassuring, — 'as long as they did as they were told they would not be harmed.’ It was the application of the power of suggestion upon both witnesses.” 229 F.2d at 886.

Commonwealth v. Fitzgerald, 376 Mass. 402, 381 N.E.2d 123 (1978), and Commonwealth v. Vitello, 376 Mass. 426, 381 N.E.2d 582 (1978), each support the State’s position here. In Fitzgerald the court was directly faced with the issue of sufficiency of the evidence. On the morning of the incident in question, the victim identified photographs of the two accused individuals. The court said:

"The defendants suggest that the fact the witness Doris denied in court that the defendants were present at the apartment rendered the earlier identifications so unreliable that its admission as substantive evidence would deny the defendants due process of law. However, there is no claim before us that the photographic identifications were made under suggestive conditions, and, as discussed supra, the defendants had an opportunity to cross-examine and did thoroughly cross-examine Doris concerning the accuracy of these identifications. Where, as here, the identifications were not made under suggestive conditions and thus their admission was not precluded and where the defendants were given and, in fact, took advantage of, ample opportunity to expose to the jury any factors tending to discredit the identifications, we cannot conclude that they were so unreliable that they should not have been admitted as substantive evidence. See Commonwealth v. Torres, supra; 4 J. Weinstein & M. Berger, Evidence par. 801 (d) (1) (C) [01] (1977). Rather, the assessment of the reliability of the identifications in these circumstances was for the jury. See Commonwealth v. Torres, supra; Lamoureux v. Commonwealth, 362 Mass. 880 (1972); Commonwealth v. Geraway, 355 Mass. 433, 438-440, cert. denied, 396 U.S. 911 (1969).” 376 Mass, at 409-10.

A similar issue was before the Massachusetts court a short time later in Vitello. The bulk of the opinion there was concerned with a determination that the trial judge erred in allowing testimony regarding a polygraph examination unfavorable to the defendant to be introduced during the Commonwealth’s case in chief. Because the case was remanded for a new trial, the court expressed its views upon the contention of Vitello that the trial judge erred in denying his motion for a directed verdict. There the victim had examined a large number of photographs, "perhaps over 200,” a day or two after the robbery, but was unable to make an identification. About ten days after the incident, he was shown a group of about fifteen photographs from which he selected one as being that of the robber. He was "positive” of the accuracy of the identification. The opinion states:

"At the trial, Johnson was shown the same group of photographs and he identified the same photograph as being that of the robber. He testified that he was certain of the photographic identification and reiterated that he 'wasn’t going to forget [the robber’s] face.’ When Johnson was asked, however, if he could identify anyone in the court room as the robber, he said that he could not. When the defendant was pointed out to him, Johnson said that he was positive that the defendant was not the robber. A police officer subsequently testified that the man in the photograph chosen by Johnson was the defendant.” 376 Mass, at 458.

The court referred to Swenson, Fitzgerald and Torres. It then stated:

"Assigning independent probative value to extrajudicial identification in such a situation is reasonable, we have noted, 'particularly where the witness, because of the time lapse before trial, is unable to make an in-court identification but clearly recollects having positively identified the defendant earlier.’ Commonwealth v. Swenson, supra at 272 n.3.

"The present case presents a closely analogous situation. The witness, Johnson, made a positive identification of the photograph soon after the robbery when the robber’s image was fresh in his mind. This mental image had faded by the time of trial to the point that Johnson testified he no longer remembered the robber but only remembered the picture. He testified that he had been positive of the extrajudicial identification, and he made a positive in-court identification of the same photograph. This testimony was properly admitted as independent evidence to be weighed, together with Johnson’s in-court denial that the defendant was the robber, by the jury. Cf. Commonwealth v. Fitzgerald, supra.” 376 Mass, at 459.

The court then considered "the question whether this evidence alone would be sufficient to withstand a motion for directed verdict.” It said:

"Although there is authority to the contrary, see People v. Gould,. 54 Cal. 2d 621, 631 (1960), we think that an extrajudicial identification may in an appropriate case provide a jury with a sufficient basis upon which to find a defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This conclusion is consistent with our observation that identifications made soon after the event are generally more reliable than identifications made at a much later date. Commonwealth v. Swenson, supra at 272 n.3. The instant case presents a good illustration of this proposition. See Cousins v. State, 18 Md. App. 552, 557 (1973). Cf. Commonwealth v. Fitzgerald, supra at 410 n.5.” Id. at 461.

The California court in Gould recognized that an extrajudicial identification made but a short time after the incident "has greater probative value than an identification made in the courtroom after the suggestions of others and the circumstances of the trial may have intervened to create a fancied recognition in the witness’ mind,” adding, "The failure of the witness to repeat the extrajudicial identification in court does not destroy its probative value ... .” 54 Cal. 2d at 626. Given that sensible statement and the fact that the decision relative to sufficiency of the evidence in Gould rested upon an unsound foundation, we believe the better view to be that of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts as set forth in Fitzgerald and Vitello. We regard the opinion in Gould as not soundly premised because the facts in that portion of it concerned with sufficiency of the evidence differ so materially from those in the case upon which the decision is based. There is no claim here of any impropriety in the photographic identification. The jury had an opportunity to observe the demeanor of the witnesses. It was for the jury to determine the weight to be given the evidence. We hold that an extrajudicial photographic identification of an accused is sufficient evidence of his criminal agency to support a conviction, notwithstanding the fact that the victim may be unable to identify him at the time of trial. We are of the view that a rational trier of fact could conclude from such evidence that the person identified is the culprit.

Judgment affirmed; appellant to pay the costs.

1 . For the benefit of the generation of attorneys who have been admitted to the bar in the last thirty years, we point out that because of the provisions of what was then Md. Const. art. 15, § 5, providing, "In the trial of all criminal cases, the Jury shall be the Judges of Law, as well as of fact,” courts did not pass upon the sufficiency of the evidence nor did this Court pass upon such sufficiency on appeal until the Constitution was amended in 1950 with the addition of the words "except that the Court may pass upon the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a conviction.” This provision has since been moved into Declaration of Rights, Art. 23.

Also for the benefit of that generation of lawyers, we observe that in many of the counties of the State until very recently judges did not instruct the jury. It was customary for counsel to read to the jury from various textbooks. The book upon which many Maryland attorneys relied was L. Hochheimer, Criminal Law (2d ed. 1904). Many such attorneys quoted § 157 of that work to juries:

"The burden rests upon the government of establishing by proof beyond a reasonable doubt every fact material to the guilt of the defendant, including every circumstance that enters into the grade or degree of the crime charged, and nothing is to be presumed or taken by implication against him. The law presumes every man innocent of crime. This presumption starts with the accusation and continues until the rendition of the verdict. Artificial presumptions and estoppels have no place in establishing guilt. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt means such proof as produces an abiding conviction, to a moral certainty, of the truth of the charge, and, unless the jury are thus convinced, they must acquit.” Id. at 175.

We regard that as being basically in accord with that enunciated by the Supreme Court in Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307, 99 S. Ct. 2781, 61 L. Ed. 2d 560 (1979).

2 . Gould is a puzzling case. In Cousins v. State, 18 Md. App. 552, 557 n.1, 308 A.2d 692, cert. denied, 270 Md. 738 (1973), Judge Thompson noted for the Court of Special Appeals the problem relative to language. The opinion as printed in 54 Cal. 2d 621, 631 refers to such identification that cannot be confirmed by an identification at the trial as being ’’insufficient to sustain a conviction in the absence of other evidence ....” (Emphasis added.) As printed in 354 P.2d 865, 870 and 7 Cal. Rptr. 273, 278 the word used is "sufficient.” However, the relevant headnote in the latter two publications states that such an identification "that cannot be confirmed by an identification at the trial is insufficient to sustain a conviction in the absence of other evidence ...” etc. This is consistent with the headnote in the official California report. It is assumed, therefore, that "insufficient” was meant. This goes to confirm the oft made statement by one individual with more than sixty years’ experience in printing that in such process "anything can happen,” and the corollary observation by another individual also familiar with the process who added "and often does.”

The opinion in Gould is puzzling otherwise, however, because it seems to be internally inconsistent. The views set forth relative to Gould in the first part of the opinion seem inconsistent with those stated concerning the appeal of Marudas in the latter part of the opinion.