State v. Reed
247 P.3d 1074
| Kan. Ct. App. | 2011Background
- Reed convicted of aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, and obstruction of official duty in Kansas after eyewitness identification at trial.
- Eyewitness identification occurred when Orabuena, shortly after the crime, viewed Reed in a patrol car and identified him.
- District court denied suppression of the identification despite finding it unnecessarily suggestive.
- Prosecution presented in-court identification and the physical evidence (wallet, $10, $1 bills) linking Reed to the crime.
- Two days after the robbery, a small silver gun was found near Reed’s flight path.
- Reed challenges suppression ruling, unanimity instruction, and Allen-type instruction before deliberations.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Was the eyewitness identification properly admitted? | Reed: identification procedure unnecessarily suggestive. | State: Corbett allows reliability review after suggestiveness. | Yes, identification admissible after reliability review. |
| Was a unanimity instruction required for aggravated robbery? | Becker requires unanimity for multiple acts. | State: alternative means case, no unanimity needed. | Unanimity not required; substantial evidence supports alternative means. |
| Was the Allen-type instruction error reversible? | Instruction erroneous and prejudicial. | Salts error not reversible since not outcome-determinative. | Not reversible error; instruction not likely to change outcome. |
Key Cases Cited
- State v. Corbett, 281 Kan. 294, 130 P.3d 1179 (2006) (two-step test for eyewitness ID admissibility; reliability under totality of circumstances)
- State v. Hunt, 275 Kan. 811, 69 P.3d 571 (2003) (original Hunt factors for reliability analysis)
- State v. Becker, 290 Kan. 842, 235 P.3d 424 (2010) (unanimity in alternative means vs. multiple acts cases)
- State v. Salts, 288 Kan. 263, 200 P.3d 464 (2009) (Allen-type instruction error not reversible when trial timing pre-deliberations)
- State v. Alires, 246 Kan. 635, 792 P.2d 1019 (1990) (time-critical show-up identifications; exigent circumstances)
