State v. Martin

595 So. 2d 592, 1992 WL 41920
CourtSupreme Court of Louisiana
DecidedMarch 2, 1992
Docket91-K-1105
StatusPublished
Cited by93 cases

This text of 595 So. 2d 592 (State v. Martin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Martin, 595 So. 2d 592, 1992 WL 41920 (La. 1992).

Opinion

595 So.2d 592 (1992)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Brian MARTIN.

No. 91-K-1105.

Supreme Court of Louisiana.

March 2, 1992.

Sylvia T. Steib, Becnel, Landry & Becnel, Nathan Folse and Phyllis M. Williams, for applicant.

Richard Phillip Ieyoub, Atty. Gen., Anthony Falterman, Dist. Atty. and Donald D. Candell, Asst. Dist. Atty., for respondent.

COLE, Justice.

In this criminal case, the issues before us are: (1) whether the pre-trial, single-photograph identification by an undercover narcotics detective of defendant Brian Martin was made under circumstances which result in a substantial likelihood of irreparable misidentification; (2) whether there was a sufficient independent basis for the detective's subsequent in-court identification; (3) whether sufficient evidence supported the jury's verdict; (4) whether the state's failure to comply with defendant's discovery request violated his right to due process of law; and (5) whether the prison sentence imposed is excessive. Because we conclude the photographic identification was made under circumstances which result in a very substantial likelihood of misidentification, which fatally tainted the subsequent in-court identification, we reverse the defendant's conviction. We believe, however, that under the applicable standard, the evidence as presented to the jury was sufficient to support the jury's verdict and, accordingly, *593 we remand to the trial court for a new trial.

I.

In May 1989, St. Charles Parish Deputy Anthony Akins was on loan to the Sheriff's Office in St. James Parish, assigned to an undercover narcotics detail in Lutcher, Louisiana. According to his police report, Akins purchased a $30 rock of cocaine early in the evening of May 23 from an individual who identified himself as Bryant Morris. Akins described the seller as a black male, dark complexion, 17-20 years old, 5'10" to 6' tall, weighing 135-145 pounds. At the time of the sale, the suspect was wearing jogging pants and no shirt. According to the report, the suspect flagged Akins down as he was driving on West Labray Street in Lutcher. He noted the suspect asked him if he (Akins) was looking for cocaine. Akins responded affirmatively, and the suspect instructed him to drive to the end of the block and wait.

Akins drove to the corner and parked. At approximately 6:35 p.m., the suspect returned and entered the vehicle. At this time, Akins learned the suspect's name was Bryant Morris. The suspect gave Akins the cocaine, and Akins gave the suspect $30. The suspect then exited the vehicle.

Subsequently, in September 1989, a grand jury indicted defendant Brian Martin on a charge of distribution of cocaine in violation of La.Rev.Stat. § 40:967(A)(1). Akins alleged Martin was the suspect who had identified himself as Bryant Morris and sold him the cocaine on May 23.

Martin filed a motion to suppress Akins's identification of Martin as the suspect who had sold the cocaine. Akins testified at the hearing on the motion to suppress. He indicated he got a good look at the suspect because it was still daylight when the purchase took place. He also stated he had seen Martin in bars in the area after the May 23 sale. Akins was asked by the prosecutor at the hearing if he would identify defendant Martin in court. Martin was among a number of males sitting in the jury box. Akins got up from the witness chair, walked to the jury box, and tapped Martin on the shoulder. Akins, however, had been holding the color photograph of Martin on his lap immediately before standing and making the identification.

Defense counsel asked how Akins proceeded to have Martin arrested since he did not know his name even at the time of the motion to suppress. Akins testified the name Brian Martin was obtained from a photograph given him by Detective Dale Roussel of the St. James Parish Sheriff's Office. He indicated the photograph of Martin was the only photograph given to him. He also testified no other photographs were given to him by anyone, only the small color photograph of defendant. He had thus not identified Martin from a physical line-up or from a photographic array. That Akins had seen only one photograph was corroborated by the state's answers in discovery, which indicated only one photograph was viewed. Akins also made clear the fact he was unaware of the defendant's real name, but worked at all times on the assumption that the defendant's real name was Bryant Morris.

Akins was also questioned about the discrepancies between his description of the suspect in the police report and the actual attributes of defendant Martin. Martin is 6'4" tall, has a medium to dark complexion, weighed 180-185 pounds at the time of the transaction, and was 29 years old on the date of the sale. Akins admitted to the court he couldn't account for the discrepancy between his description of the suspect and Martin's attributes. He also testified he was shown the photograph of Martin a month after the incident during which time he made between 10 and 50 other undercover drug purchases. Akins acknowledged there were no witnesses who observed the transaction and no physical evidence other than the cocaine itself.

The trial court denied the motion to suppress the identification. It indicated that while Akins "may not be too good on descriptions and estimates of ages[,]" the court believed "the argument actually goes to the weight" of the evidence. Trial transcript, vol. III, pp. 533-34.

*594 The case then proceeded to trial before a jury. The state's case was premised upon the eyewitness testimony of Detective Akins. Akins once again made an in-court identification of defendant Martin as the person who sold him the cocaine. Akins's trial testimony, however, contradicted his previous testimony in numerous respects. Akins testified he had been shown two photographs. The first photograph was of one Bryant Morris, who was not the person who sold him the cocaine. He testified he, not a detective from St. James Parish, went out on the street and discovered the real name of the person who had sold him the cocaine. Although it took about a month, Akins obtained the name Brian Martin and gave the name to Detective Roussel. She gave him a picture for his review. He indicated there was no name on the photograph, but he identified it as being the suspect who had sold him the cocaine. The photograph was of defendant Brian Martin.

Akins attempted to explain the discrepancies in his prior testimony by first observing he did not remember making the prior statements under oath at the suppression hearing. He then indicated his answers had always been the same and counsel must have asked the question in another manner. When the transcript was read and it was noted he had previously testified he got the defendant's name from the picture, Akins stated "[t]hat can't be true." The record also reveals defendant Martin has a beard and small mustache. Akins did not recall whether he noticed facial hair on the person who sold him the cocaine. Also, defendant had a tatoo on his left arm, and at the time of the sale the suspect was not wearing a shirt. Akins also explained he had previously stated he saw only one photograph because he understood counsel to be asking about one specific day. He had, however, been asked repeatedly if he had seen any other photograph at any other time.[1]

Detective Akins's credibility was thoroughly reviewed by both the prosecution and the defense during trial.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
595 So. 2d 592, 1992 WL 41920, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-martin-la-1992.