State v. Ollison

Decision Date04 March 1974
Citation16 Or.App. 544,519 P.2d 393
PartiesSTATE of Oregon, Respondent, v. Jerome OLLISON, Appellant.
CourtOregon Court of Appeals

Nick Chaivoe, Portland, argued the cause and filed the brief for appellant.

John W. Burgess, Asst. Atty. Gen., Salem, argued the cause for respondent. With him on the brief were Lee Johnson, Atty. Gen., and W. Michael Gillette, Sol. Gen., Salem.

Before SCHWAB, C.J., and LANGTRY and THORNTON, JJ.

THORNTON, Judge.

Defendant was charged with robbery, former ORS 163.290 (repealed Oregon Laws 1971, ch. 743, § 432, p. 2002), by forcefully snatching a purse containing money from a 74-year-old woman. After trial by jury, defendant was convicted and sentenced to a maximum term of five years' imprisonment. Defendant was thereafter granted a delayed appeal.

Defendant alleges that the trial judge erred: (1) by refusing to instruct the jury concerning the inherent dangers of identification testimony; (2) by inadequately instructing the jury as to the state's burden of proof; and (3) by refusing to allow defendant's trial counsel to examine any portion of the presentence report.

The evidence at trial established that a young black man grabbed the purse from the elderly victim while she was standing at a bus stop in Portland. The victim testified that she was sprayed in the face by her assailant with a substance that 'kind of dazed' her; however she was able to hang on to the purse handle. She fell when her assailant tore the purse free.

The assailant was seen getting into a 1959 or 1960 Chevrolet. A description of the car and the license number were reported to the investigating officer, who broadcast the information. Shortly thereafter two school security officers observed a car of the same description as it stopped in front of John Adams High School. Two occupants were seen to leave the car and enter the school building. The driver was identified by a security officer as Dennis Smith 1 and was described as wearing a white hat and a blue coat. The identity of the passenger was not established but he was described as wearing dark clothing. The officer who observed this testified that Dennis Smith, together with a man similar in height, dress and appearance to the unidentified passenger above, came out of the school about 10 minutes later and drove off in the car.

The security officers followed the car as it drove through the school parking lot and, as they did so, saw an object thrown from the passenger side. This object was recovered by another officer and was subsequently identified as the victim's purse. Smith's car was stopped before it could leave the parking lot; however, the passenger, who was later identified as the defendant, got out and ran into the school building. He was subsequently questioned by city police officers and was released after giving his name to them.

Defendant was later arrested and subjected to a lineup. At this lineup defendant was identified by the victim as her assailant. The trial court ruled that the lineup was proper. Defendant does not challenge that ruling.

The investigating officer testified on cross-examination that the victim described the assailant as wearing a white hat and a blue coat. A witness who observed the assailant running away with a purse testified that his man was wearing a white cap and dark coat. The victim was recalled to the stand, whereupon she testified that her assailant was wearing brown clothing. She denied ever telling the investigating officer that her assailant was wearing a white hat and blue coat.

After giving notice of an alibi defense, defendant ppoduced a witness who testified he had seen defendant at John Adams High School near the time of the purse snatching. However, this testimony was not conclusive as to defendant's whereabouts.

Defendant also took the stand and denied taking part in the robbery. On cross-examination he admitted being in Dennis Smith's automobile at John Adams High School, but denied that anything was thrown from the car while he was in it.

In accordance with his theory that he was not involved in the purse snatching, defendant requested instructions concerning the inherent dangers in the reliability of identification evidence. The trial judge refused to give the requested instructions, stating:

'That is commenting on the evidence. I wouldn't give it under any circumstances * * *.'

Defendant argues that the identification evidence offered at his trial was inconclusive and conflicting; that none of the witnesses could make a positive identification; and that therefore instructions concerning identification should have been given.

The trial judge is not required to give jury instructions in the form requested. State v. Robinson, 235 Or. 524, 385 P.2d 754 (1963). However, he must "* * * state the contentions of both the state and the defendant, and charge on all the issues made by the testimony * * *'.' State v. Jennings, 131 Or. 455, 465, 282 P. 560, 564 (1929); Accord, State v. Jones, 11 Or.App. 129, 136, 500 P.2d 1225 (1972), Sup.Ct. review denied (1973). In other words, defendant is entitled to have his theory of the case presented to the jury if there is evidence to support it. See, State v. Burns, Or.App., 98 Adv.Sh. 261, 516 P.2d 748 (1973), where we held that it was error not to give a requested self-defense instruction in a murder case.

In State v. Jones, supra, we took note of the uncertainties that may be involved in eyewitness identification, and said:

'Certainly the giving of an appropriate instruction to the jury relating to the need for caution in accepting testimonial assertions of identity would here have been appropriate, and we think might well have been given. We cannot, however, say, after a review of the entire record that it was such an abuse of discretion as to warrant a reversal of the conviction.' 11 Or.App. at 136, 500 P.2d at 1228.

Again in State v. Calia, Or.App., 97 Adv.Sh. 2009, 514 P.2d 1354 (1973), Sup.Ct. review denied (1974), the reliability of eyewitness identification was raised by the evidence. There we approved the giving of an instruction concerning the reliability of identification evidence. We said:

'The jury was entitled to consider the evidence under proper instruction. The court instructed the jury:

"In this case, there has been eye witness identification of the defendant. When you consider the weight to be given such testimony or the reliability of such evidence, you should consider the similarity (sic; familiarity?) of the witness with the defendant, the opportunity the witness had to make an identification, taking into consideration such matters as time, height, (light,) movement, the number of persons present and the excitement attending the event or the occasion, the susceptibility of the witness through suggestion of others or other groups, and the period of time that elapsed between the initial observation and the final identification.'

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14 cases
  • State v. Classen
    • United States
    • Oregon Court of Appeals
    • 15 Noviembre 1977
    ...any instruction expressly relating to identification testimony. Although we have previously referred to Telfaire (State v. Ollison, 16 Or.App. 544, 555, 519 P.2d 393 (1974), we have never specifically approved that instruction and we do not do so now. It is prolix, it tends to overemphasize......
  • State v. Allen
    • United States
    • Oregon Court of Appeals
    • 30 Junio 2021
    ...that includes considering "whether the witness had had occasion to see or know the person in the past"); State v. Ollison , 16 Or. App. 544, 550, 519 P.2d 393 (1974) (referring to Calia , 15 Or. App. 110, 514 P.2d 1354, and Telfaire , 469 F.2d 552, as examples of correct eyewitness-identifi......
  • State v. Padilla
    • United States
    • Hawaii Supreme Court
    • 12 Julio 1976
    ...Cir. 1973); United States v. Evans, 484 F.2d 1178 (2d Cir. 1973); United States v. Moss, 410 F.2d 386 (3d Cir. 1969); State v. Ollison, 16 Or.App. 544, 519 P.2d 393 (1974); State v. Taylor, 109 Ariz. 267, 508 P.2d 731 Here the cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses, the arguments to......
  • State v. Schaffer
    • United States
    • Utah Supreme Court
    • 29 Octubre 1981
    ...U.R.C.P., Rule 30, U.C.A., § 77-35-30 (effective July 1, 1980); State v. Taylor, 109 Ariz. 267, 508 P.2d 731 (1973); State v. Ollison, 16 Or.App. 544, 519 P.2d 393 (1974). The conviction is HALL, C. J., HOWE, J., and J. ALLAN CROCKETT, Retired Justice, concur. MAUGHAN, Justice, did not part......
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