State v. Plowden

308 S.E.2d 918 (1983)

STATE of North Carolina
v.
Jake Edward PLOWDEN.

No. 833SC261.

Court of Appeals of North Carolina.

December 6, 1983.

Atty. Gen. Edmisten by Kaye R. Webb, Asst. Atty. Gen., Raleigh, for the State.

Appellate Defender Adam Stein by Asst. Appellate Defender Marc D. Towler, Raleigh, for defendant-appellant.

VAUGHN, Chief Judge.

Defendant first contends the trial court erred by not suppressing the victim's incourt identification of him. Defendant maintains that the identification resulted from an impermissibly suggestive photographic lineup rather than the victim's recollection from the night of the rape. The photographs of defendant indicated his height, as did the photographs of other people shown to the victim. The photographs also contained the date they were taken, and defendant's photographs were dated closer to the rape date than the others.

When the admissibility of an incourt identification is challenged on the grounds that it is tainted by an out-of-court identification made under constitutionally impermissible circumstances, the trial judge must make findings as to the background facts to determine whether the testimony meets the tests of admissibility. When the facts so found are supported by competent evidence, they are conclusive on appeal. State v. Tuggle, 284 N.C. 515, 201 S.E.2d 884 (1974).

The trial court must determine from the totality of the circumstances whether a pretrial photographic identification was impermissibly suggestive, and if so, whether it tainted the in-court identification. State v. Clark, 301 N.C. 176, 182-83, 270 S.E.2d 425, 429 (1980). Reliability of an identification depends upon "(1) opportunity to view, (2) degree of attention, (3) accuracy of description, (4) level of certainty, (5) time between crime and confrontation." Id. at 183, 270 S.E.2d 425, citing Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 93 S. Ct. 375, 34 L. Ed. 2d 401 (1972).

The judge made detailed findings of fact including, in substance, the following. The victim was first awakened by defendant in a well-lighted room where she observed defendant at close range. She was then forced into another well-lighted room where she was able to observe defendant before and during the rape. Her attention was focused almost exclusively on defendant for over seven minutes of the fifteen minutes he was in her presence. Shortly after the assault she accurately described several major features of defendant's appearance. The day after the crime she selected defendant's photograph from two stacks of photographs within eight to twelve seconds. Her identification at trial was based on her personal observation of his features on the night of the crime, was unequivocal and was not suggested by the photographs. These findings of fact are supported by competent evidence and are, therefore, conclusive on appeal. The assignment of error is overruled.

Defendant next contends that the trial court erred in admitting testimony of a non-expert witness concerning the similarity of defendant's shoe sole and a shoe print found at the crime scene. This contention lacks merit. Non-expert testimony about shoe prints is admissible. State v. Jackson, 302 N.C. 101, 107-109, 273 S.E.2d 666, 671-72 (1981). The basis or circumstances behind a non-expert opinion on a shoe print do not affect the admissibility of the opinion; instead, they go to the weight of such evidence. Id.

During the jury charge, immediately after the judge recapitulated so much of the State's evidence as was necessary to declare and explain the law thereon, the judge told the jury:

There was no evidence offered directly by the defendant, but there was a great deal of evidence elicited by way of cross examination of the State's witnesses and you will consider that as you pass upon all of the evidence in this case.

Defendant, in essence, argues that the foregoing was an improper comment on defendant's failure to testify. We disagree. Obviously, the jury knew defendant had offered no evidence. The judge merely reminded the jury to consider any evidence favorable to defendant that had been elicited on cross examination.

Defendant also argues that the statement was prejudicial because the judge did not add that defendant's failure to testify should not be considered as a basis for any inference adverse to him. The record discloses, however, that before the charge, defendant specifically requested the judge not to give the usual instruction on the failure of a defendant to testify. The record further discloses that after defendant indicated his dissatisfaction with the quoted part of the instruction, he expressly told the judge that he did want the judge to give an instruction to correct the alleged error. It is elemental that a party cannot invite an alleged error at trial and then complain of it on appeal. A party may not complain of an instruction given or omitted at his request. Overton v. Overton, 260 N.C. 139, 132 S.E.2d 349 (1963).

No error.

WELLS and JOHNSON, JJ., concur.