United States v. Melvin Telfaire

469 F.2d 552, 152 U.S. App. D.C. 146, 1972 U.S. App. LEXIS 8925

Opinions

PER CURIAM:

Appellant was found guilty of robbery, D.C.Code § 22-2901, and sentenced under the Youth Corrections Act. On this appeal it is contended the judge erred (1) in sending the case to the jury on the uncorroborated testimony of a single witness; (2) in failing to initiate a special instruction on identification even in the absence of request by defense counsel, and (3) in failing to give an instruction on the absence of flight. We affirm.

I.

Anglo-American jurisprudence has accepted the “one witness” rule, declining to follow the rule of the canon and civil law requiring a greater number of witnesses or corroboration,¹ with exceptions requiring corroboration for particular crimes, notably “sex” offenses, where the urge to fantacize or motive to fabricate makes the risk of unjust conviction high.²

The one witness rule recognizes that certain crimes are solitary, and as to such crimes both the deterrence of punishment and the rehabilitation of offenders are proper concerns of the state. Moreover, Anglo-American jurisprudence — with its strong presumption of innocence, and adversary system — has safeguards which dilute the danger of conviction of the innocent, a problem that concerns every civilized system of justice.

With retention of the one-witness rule, which is plainly applicable to the crime of robbery,³ the evidence in this case — set forth in the footnote⁴— while having some weak spots, is sufficient to preclude us from finding an abuse of discretion on the part of the trial judge in sending the case to the jury.⁵

II.

The presumption of innocence that safeguards the common law system must be a premise that is realized in instruction and not merely a promise. In pursuance of that objective, we have pointed out the importance of and need for a special instruction on the key issue of identification, which emphasizes to the jury the need for finding that the circumstances of the identification are convincing beyond a reasonable doubt. This need was voiced in 1942 in McKenzie v. United States⁶ and it has been given vitality in our opinions of recent years — -following the Supreme Court’s 1966 Wade-Gilbert-Stovall trilogy⁷ focusing on the very real danger of mistaken identification as a threat to justice. We refer to our post-Wade opinions in Gregory ⁸ and Macklin.

Footnotes

•

9 These opinions sought to take into account the traditional recognition that identification testimony presents special problems of reliability¹⁰ by stressing the importance of an identification instruction even in cases meeting the constitutional threshold of admissability.¹¹

We do not qualify in any particular the importance of and need for a special identification instruction. But in evaluating the prejudice inherent in the fail ure of the trial court to offer one, we have taken into account that in the circumstances of a particular case, the proof, contentions and general instructions may have so shaped the case as to convince us that in any real sense the minds of the jury were plainly focused on the need for finding the identification of the defendant as the offender proved beyond a reasonable doubt.¹²

In this case, as in Macklin, we consider the instructions given by the trial judge¹³- — both the initial instructions on the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt all the elements of the offense, and the follow-on instructions dealing with the defense of alibi, and the problem of mistaken identity — and the overall context of the case, and we are satisfied that the attention of the jury was significantly focused on the issue of identity.

Moreover, this case exhibits none of the special difficulties often presented by identification testimony that would require additional information be given to the jury in order for us to repose confidence in their ability to evaluate the reliability of the identification.¹⁴ Here the victim had an adequate opportunity to observe, and the testimony revealed a spontaneous identification of the defendant in the lobby of the hotel where the robbery took place as soon as the complainant entered the lobby with the police officers (see fn. 4). The absence of a special identification instruction did not prejudice appellant’s defense.¹⁵

We do, however, consider our appellate function to require a supplement to our prior rulings. In Macklin, we called attention to a standard criminal jury instruction prepared in 1966 by the Junior Bar Section of the District of Columbia Bar Association. That instruction does little more than incorporate one sentence modeled on our 1942 opinion in McKenzie. It does not take note of the discussion in Wade and subsequent cases.

In Barber v. United States¹⁶ the Third Circuit undertook to present an approach that would “recognize a compelling need for guidelines which will obviate skeletal pattern instructions and assure the essential particularity demanded by the facts surrounding each identification.” To further the administration of justice in the District of Columbia the Appendix contains a model instruction, using material from Barber to some extent, which trial judges can use to focus on the identification issue— with revision and adaptation to suit the proof and contentions of a particular case. It is not being set forth in terms of compulsion, but a failure to use this model, with appropriate adaptations, would constitute a risk in future eases that should not be ignored unless there is strong reason in the particular case.

III.

Defense counsel requested an instruction, set forth in the footnote, on the absence of flight.¹⁷ It is a paraphrase, with verbal reversal, of an instruction on the inference from flight which appears in the Junior Bar Section’s standard instruction.¹⁸ That flight instruction is one which we have criticized as weak and as relating to an “extraordinarily complex action, potentially prompted by a variety of motives other than guilt of the actual crime.” ¹⁹ We have ruled that such an instruction may be used only “sparsely” ²⁰ and only if the trial judge accompanies it with an indication of the variety of motives that may account for flight.

In this case, the trial judge, presented with what can fairly be described as a new “form” instruction — on the absence of flight — noted that this court has approached the “whole question of flight” with circumspection, and concluded that the instruction should not be given. The court ruled that counsel would be permitted to argue the concept to the jury.

We approve the trial court’s exercise of discretion. We need not consider what the situation would have been if defense trial counsel had presented an instruction that advised the jury that an inference might be drawn from the absence of flight, and at the same time advised the jury of different inferences which might also be drawn. While the inference from the absence of flight could properly be argued to the jury, we see no basis for requiring it to be elevated above any other inference that might be argued to the jury, and given the status of being particularly significant by being enshrined in an instruction. If anything, the interest of justice might better be served by removing entirely from instructions both flight and absence of flight, and relegating the entire subject to the give and take of argument.

Affirmed.

Appendix: Model Special Instructions on Identification

One of the most important issues in this case is the identification of the defendant as the perpetrator of the crime. The Government has the burden of providing identity, beyond a reasonable doubt. It is not essential that the witness himself be free from doubt as to the correctness of his statement. However, you, the jury, must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of the accuracy of the identification of the defendant before you may convict him. If you are not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was the person who committed the crime, you must find the defendant not guilty.

Identification testimony is an expression of belief or impression by the witness. Its value depends on the opportunity the witness had to observe the offender at the time of the offense and to make a reliable identification later.

In appraising the identification testimony of a witness, you should consider the following:

(1) Are you convinced that the witness had the capacity and an adequate opportunity to observe the offender?

Whether the witness had an adequate opportunity to observe the offender at the time of the offense will be affected by such mattei's as how long or short a time was available, how far or close the witness was, how good were lighting conditions, whether the witness had had occasion to see or know the person in the past.

[In general, a witness bases any identification he makes on his perception through the use of his senses. Usually the witness identifies an offender by the sense of sight — but this is not necessarily so, and he may use other senses.] *

(2) Are you satisfied that the identification made by the witness subsequent to the offense was the product of his own recollection? You may take into account both the strength of the identification, and the circumstances under which the identification was made.

If the identification by the witness may have been influenced by the circumstances under which the defendant was presented to him for identification, you should scrutinize the identification with great care. You may also consider the length of time that lapsed between the occurrence of the crime and the next opportunity of the witness to see defendant, as a factor bearing on the reliability of the identification.

[You may also take into account that an identification made by picking the defendant out of a group of similar individuals is generally more reliable than one which results from the presentation of the defendant alone to the witness.]

[(3) You make take into account any occasions in which the witness failed to make an identification of defendant, or made an identification that was inconsistent with his identification at trial-.]

(4) Finally, you must consider the credibility of each identification witness in the same way as any other witness, consider whether he is truthful, and consider whether he had the capacity and opportunity to make a reliable observation on the matter covered in his testimony.

I again emphasize that the burden of proof on the prosecutor extends to every element of the crime charged, and this specifically includes the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt the identity of the defendant as the perpetrator of the crime with which he stands charged. If after examining the testimony, you have a reasonable doubt as to the accuracy of the identification, you must find the defendant not guilty.

1

. The history of this development is extensively related in 7 Wigmore, Evidence §§ 2030-34 (1940).

2

. Coltrane v. United States, 135 U.S.App. D. C. 295, 299, 418 F.2d 1131, 1135 (1969).

3

. Thompson v. United States, 88 U.S. App.D.C. 235, 188 F.2d 652 (1951); Jones v. United States, 124 U.S.App.D.C. 83, 361 F.2d 537 (1966).

4

. Mr. Peregory, the complaining witness, testified that on the evening of April 10th he was trying to “hunt up” a friend named Edwards with whom he and his wife had onco lived at 16th and Irving Streets. Mr. Peregory testified that he “walked up 10th Street and looked in this hotel.” While standing there, a man and a woman approached him and inquired if he was looking for narcotics. He indicated that he was not, but rather was trying to locate his friend Edwards. The man and woman stated they knew Edwards and that he had a room on the third floor of the hotel, whereupon the three of them went to the third floor. Upon reaching that floor, they were joined by a third person, later identified as appellant. Mr. Peregory testified that appellant asked him for a dollar and that he complied with appellant’s request. Asked for more money, Mr. Peregory insisted that he had none, but his pockets were searched and a ten dollar bill was removed by appellant. The third floor area where these events took place was, according to Mr. Pere-gory, not well lighted.

The complaining witness then left the hotel and walked directly to 10th and New York Avenue where he encountered a uniformed police officer to whom he recounted the robbery, though giving the police no description of his assailants. By his own testimony, it took him approximately one-half hour to make this two block trip, Two plainclothes officers then accompanied him back to the hotel. Upon entering, Mr. Peregory immediately identified appellant, who was standing in the lobby, as one of the persons who had robbed him. At the time of his arrest, appellant had four or five dollar bills and sixty or seventy cents in change.

Appellant took the stand in his own defense. He testified that he had arrived at the hotel about seven o’clock in the evening and spent an hour talking in the fourth floor room of a friend. He then went down to the lobby where he talked for a few minutes with a young woman. At that point the police entered the hotel and he was arrested.

5

. The usual standard for directing a verdict of acquittal, see, e. g., Curley v. United States, 81 U.S.App.D.C. 389, 160 F.2d 229, cert. denied, 331 U.S. 837, 67 S.Ct. 1511, 91 L.Ed. 1850 (1947), must of course be applied in the special context of a one-witness case where the only evidence is the victim’s identification. Necessarily, the only issue is whether the circumstances surrounding the identification could be found convincing beyond a reasonable doubt. We think the Fourth Circuit, in United States v. Devi, 405 F.2d 380, 383 (1968), stated the correct approach :

[A] district judge has the power to refuse to permit a criminal case to go to the jury even though the single eye witness testifies in positive terms as to identity. ... In deciding whether to permit a criminal case to go to the jury, where identification rests upon the testimony of one witness, the district judge ought to consider with respect to identification testimony the lapse of time between the occurrence of the crime and the first confrontation, the opportunity during the crime to identify . . ., the reasons, if any, for failure to conduct a line-up or use similar techniques short of line-up, and the district judge’s own appraisal of the capacity of the identifying witness to observe and remember facial and other features. In short, the district judge should concern himself as to whether the totality of circumstances “givefs] rise to a very substantial likelihood of irreparable mis-identification.”

6

. 75 U.S.App.D.C. 270, 126 F.2d 533.

7

. United States v. Wade, 388 U.S. 218, 87 S.Ct. 1926, 18 L.Ed.2d 1149 (1967); Gilbert v. California, 388 U.S. 263, 87 S.Ct. 1951, 18 L.Ed.2d 1178 (1967); Stovall v. Denno, 388 U.S. 293, 87 S.Ct. 1967, 18 L.Ed.2d 1199 (1967); Simmons v. United States, 390 U.S. 377, 88 S.Ct. 967, 19 L.Ed.2d 1247 (1968).

8

. Gregory v. United States, 125 U.S.App.D.C. 140, 369 F.2d 185 (1966). See Salley v. United States, 122 U.S.App.D.C. 359, 353 F.2d 897 (1965).

9

. Macklin v. United States, 133 U.S.App.D.C. 139, 409 F.2d 174 (1969).

10

. E. g., P. Wall, Eye-Witness Identification in Criminal Cases 8-11 (1965); 3 Wigmore, Evidence § 786(a) (Chadbourn rev. 1970) (compendium of sources).

11

. We think that now, after the Supreme Court has focused on identification problems in its 1967 Wade-Gilbert-Stovall trilogy, it is even more imperative that trial courts include, as a matter of routine, an identification instruction. . In cases where identification is a major issue the judge should not rely on defense counsel to request so important a charge. Macklin v. United States, supra note 9, at 143, 409 F.2d at 178. The quoted language was held non-retroactive in United States v. Washington, 134 U.S.App. D.C. 135, 413 F.2d 409 (1969).

12

. United States v. Shelvy, 148 U.S.App. D.C. 1, 458 F.2d 823 (1972) ; Mack-lin v. United States, supra note 9.

13

. In order for you to find the defendant, Melvin Telfaire guilty of robbery, you must find that the Government has proved beyond a reasonable doubt the following:

That the defendant took property of some value from the complainant, Mr. Perogory, against the will of the complainant ;

That the defendant took possession of such property by force or violence or stealthy seizure, snatching, or putting the complainant in fear;

That the defendant took possession of such property from the person or immediate actual possession of the complainant ;

That, after having so taken the property, the defendant carried it away; and

That the defendant took such property and carried it away without the right to do so and with the specific intent to steal it.

* * * a *

In this case the defendant has taken the stand and testified in his own defense with respect to what occurred on April 10, 1970. He admits that he was in the hotel. However, he states that he was on the fourth floor of the hotel and not on the third floor where the alleged offense took place. He denies that at any time he robbed or even saw the complainant.

His defense is in the nature of an alibi and I wish to give you the following instruction of law with respect to an alibi.

The claim of alibi is legitimate, legal and proper. The defendant may not be convicted of the offense with which he is charged unless the Government proves, beyond a reasonable- doubt that the defendant was present at the time when, and at the place where, the offense was committed.

If, after full and fair consideration of all of the facts and circumstances in evidence you find that the government has failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was present at the time when, and the place where, the offense charged was allegedly committed, you must find the defendant not guilty.

As I have indicated to you with respect to the particular offense, the Government has a burden of proving all of the essential elements of the offense with which the defendant is charged beyond a reasonable doubt.

When you retire to the jury room there are two possible verdicts that may be returned.

If you find the Government has proven beyond a reasonable doubt all of the essential elements of the crime of robbery as I have defined them to you, then you may find the defendant guilty under the indictment as charged.

If, on the other hand, you find that the Government has not proven beyond a reasonable doubt all of the essential elements of the crime of robbery as I have defined to you, then your verdict must be not guilty.

14

. Compare the model special identification instruction contained in the appendix to this opinion.

15

. See United States v. Slielvy, supra note 12.

16

. United States v. Barber, 442 F.2d 517, 528 (3rd Cir. 1971). See United States v. Edward, 439 F.2d 150 (3rd Cir. 1971). Barber articulated a mandatory approach for prospective application only.

17

. Appellant’s requested instruction was submitted to the trial court in the following form:

There has been evidence that the defendant was arrested near the i>lace of the alleged offense some minutes after the offense is alleged to have occurred. Absence of flight [or concealment] after a crime has been committed does not create a presumption of innocence. You may consider evidence of absence of flight [or concealment] however, as tending to prove the defendant’s lack of consciousness of guilt. You should consider and weigh evidence of absence of flight [or concealment] by the defendant in connection with all the other evidence in the case and give it such weight as in your judgment it is fairly entitled to receive.

The bracketed language was omitted by appellant’s counsel after the Government claimed that the testimony showed appellant had turned liis back to the police.

18

. Flight or concealment by the defendant, after a crime has been committed, does not create a presumption of guilt. You may consider evidence of flight or concealment, however, as tending to prove the defendant’s consciousness of guilt. You are not required to do so. You should consider and weigh evidence of flight or concealment by the defendant in connection with all the other evidence in the case and give it such weight as in your judgment it is fairly entitled to receive.

19

. Austin v. United States, 134 U.S.App.D.C. 259, 261, 414 F.2d 1155, 1157 (1969).

20

. Id.

Sentence in brackets ([]) to be used only if appropriate. Instructions to be inserted or modified as appropriate to the proof and contentions.