State v. Freber, 366 So. 2d 426 (Fla. 1978). · Go Syfert
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State v. Freber, 366 So. 2d 426 (Fla. 1978). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
69 citation events (16 in the last 25 years) across 5 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Fowler v. State (fladistctapp, 2008-06-30)
Treatment trajectory · 1978 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1978 2002 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 28 distinct citers.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Fowler v. State (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 2008 · confidence medium
See, e.g., Dep't of Health & Rehabilitative Servs. v. M.B., 701 So.2d 1155, 1156 (Fla. 1997) (involving an in-court recantation of allegations); State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426, 428 (Fla.1978) (addressing an inability to recognize an unfamiliar defendant); State v. Contreras, 979 So.2d 896 (Fla. 2008) (discussing an inability to testify altogether).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Lewis v. State
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 2001 · confidence medium
In the recent case of Puryear v. State, 774 So.2d 846, 852 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000), we observed that one of the reasons for admitting section 90.801(2)(c) identification statements as non-hearsay is that the "earlier, out-of-court identifications are believed to be more reliable than those made under the suggestive conditions prevailing at trial." We cited to State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426, 428 (Fla.1978), in which the supreme court wrote: In our view, an identification made shortly after the crime is inherently more reliable than a later identification in court.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Puryear v. State
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 2000 · confidence medium
See Fed.R.Evid. 801(d)(1)(c) (Advisory Committee Notes); § 90.801, Fla.Stat.Ann. (1999), Law Revision Council Note-1976; State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426, 428 (Fla.1978). [2] As Justice Anstead wrote when he sat on this court, with an out-of-court identification closer in time to the actual event, "there is a lessened possibility of taint than when an identification is made in court where the identified person (defendant) is in the obvious `hotseat' alongside his counsel." Stanford, 576 So.2d at 740 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Tisdel
Ill. App. Ct. · 2000 · confidence medium
App. 3d 409, 411 (1980), this court cited with approval language from People v. Gould , 54 Cal. 2d 621, 626 , 354 P.2d 865, 867 , 7 Cal. Rptr. 273, 275 (Cal. 1960), overruled on other grounds by People v. Cuevas , 12 Cal. 4 th 252, 906 P.2d 1290 , 48 Cal. Rptr. 2d 135 (Cal. 1995): "Unlike other testimony that cannot be corroborated by proof of prior consistent statements unless it is first impeached (citations omitted), evidence of an extra-judicial identification is admitted regardless of whether the testimonial identification is impeached, because the earlier identification has greater proba…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) People v. Tisdel (2×)
Ill. App. Ct. · 2000 · confidence medium
In People v. Panczko, 86 Ill.App.3d 409, 411 , 41 Ill.Dec. 490 , 407 N.E.2d 988 (1980), this court cited with approval language from People v. Gould, 54 Cal.2d 621, 626 , 354 P.2d 865, 867 , 7 Cal.Rptr. 273, 275 (Cal.1960), overruled on other grounds by People v. Cuevas, 12 Cal.4th 252 , 48 Cal. Rptr.2d 135 , 906 P.2d 1290 (1995): "Unlike other testimony that cannot be corroborated by proof of prior consistent statements unless it is first impeached (citations omitted), evidence of an extra-judicial identification is admitted regardless of whether the testimonial identification is impeached, b…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Foster v. State
Fla. · 2000 · confidence medium
A statement may be offered, for instance, to show motive, see Escobar v. State, 699 So.2d 988, 997 (Fla.1997); Chatman v. State, 687 So.2d 860, 862 (Fla. 1st DCA 1997); knowledge, see Colina v. State, 570 So.2d 929, 932 (Fla.1990); Duncan v. State, 616 So.2d 140, 141 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993); or identity, see State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426, 427 (Fla.1978).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Jackson (2×) also: Cited "see"
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 1999 · confidence medium
Consideration must also be given to the fact that “an identification made shortly after the crime is more reliable than a later identification in court.” Blanco, 452 So.2d at 524 (quoting State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426, 428 (Fla.1978)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Department of Health & Rehabilitative Services v. M.B.
Fla. · 1997 · confidence medium
Employing similar reasoning in an analogous situation, for example, we have observed that “an identification made shortly after the crime is inherently more reliable than a later identification in court.” State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426, 428 (Fla.1978).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Dhrs v. Mb
Fla. · 1997 · confidence medium
Employing similar reasoning in an analogous situation, for example, we have observed that "an identification made shortly after the crime is inherently more reliable than a later identification in court." State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426, 428 (Fla.1978).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Aneiro v. State
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 1996 · confidence medium
State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426, 427 (Fla.1978).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Long
R.I. · 1985 · confidence medium
State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426, 427-28 (Fla.1978).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Blanco v. State
Fla. · 1984 · confidence medium
Further, we are mindful that "an identification made shortly after the crime is inherently more reliable than a later identification in court." State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426, 428 (Fla. 1978).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Cromartie
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 1982 · confidence medium
In State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426, 428 (Fla. 1978), the Supreme Court held: [3] In our view, an identification made shortly after the crime is inherently more reliable than a later identification in court.
discussed Cited "see" Deans v. State
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 2008 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426 (Fla.1978) (holding that testimony regarding a prior, out-of-court identification is admissible if the identifying witness testifies to such identification and is subject to cross-examination).
cited Cited "see" CC, JR. v. State
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 2006 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426 (Fla.1978).
discussed Cited "see" Ibar v. State
Fla. · 2006 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Freber, 366 So. 2d 426, 428 (Fla. 1978) (expanding the rule to allow identification evidence as substantive evidence because requiring "the declarant's presence in court and availability for cross-examination eliminate[s] the usual danger of hearsay testimony"); see also United States v. Jarrad, 754 F.2d 1451, 1456 (9th Cir. 1985) (finding that the main reason the statement of identification is not hearsay is that "compliance with the rule eliminates the major danger of hearsay testimony" since both the declarant and the witness are available for cross-examination).
cited Cited "see" Lopez v. State
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 2003 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426 (Fla.1978); Allen v. State, 789 So.2d 1154 (Fla. 3rd DCA 2001); Stanford v. State, 576 So.2d 737 (Fla. 4th DCA 1991).
discussed Cited "see" Banks v. State (2×)
Fla. · 2001 · signal: see · confidence high
See Breedlove, 413 So.2d at 6 (citing State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426, 427 (Fla.1978)).
cited Cited "see" Thomas v. State
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 1999 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426 (Fla. 1978); Roberts v. State, 268 So.2d 578 (Fla. 3d DCA 1972); Weinshenker v. State, 223 So.2d 561 (Fla. 3d DCA), cert. denied, 225 So.2d 918 (Fla. 1969).
discussed Cited "see" Neilson v. State
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 1998 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426 (Fla. 1978) (holding that testimony regarding a prior, out-of-court identification is admissible if the identifying witness testifies to such identification and is subject to cross-examination).
cited Cited "see" Reeves v. State
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 1995 · signal: see · confidence high
See Way v. Dugger, 568 So.2d 1263 (Fla.1990); see and compare State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426 (Fla.1978).
discussed Cited "see" State v. Green
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 1984 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426 (Fla.1978); Lauramore v. State, 422 So.2d 896 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982); State v. Cromartie, 419 So.2d 757 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982); State v. Ciongoli, 313 So.2d 41 (Fla. 4th DCA 1975)..
cited Cited "see" Petty v. State
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 1979 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426 (Fla.1978).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." AEB v. State
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 2002 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See also State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426, 428 (Fla.1978) (holding that evidence of an out-of-court identification is admissible even when the identifying witness cannot make an in-court identification).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." A.E.B. v. State
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 2002 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See also State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426, 428 (Fla.1978) (holding that evidence of an out-of-court identification is admissible even when the identifying witness cannot make an in-court identification).
cited Cited "see, e.g." Swafford v. State
Fla. · 1988 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence low
See, e.g., State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426 (Fla.1978); Brown v. State, 413 So.2d 414 (Fla. 5th DCA 1982); Henry v. State, 383 So.2d 320 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980).
cited Cited "see, e.g." Swafford v. State
Fla. · 1988 · signal: see, e.g. · confidence low
See, e.g., State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426 (Fla. 1978); Brown v. State, 413 So.2d 414 (Fla. 5th DCA 1982); Henry v. State, 383 So.2d 320 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Diamond v. State
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 1983 · signal: see also · confidence low
State v. Moore, 424 So.2d 920 (Fla. 4th DCA 1982); Hills v. State, 428 So.2d 318 (Fla. 1st DCA 1983); Law Revision Council Note, 6C F.S.A. 238-39 (1976); see California v. Green, 399 U.S. 149 , 90 S.Ct. 1930 , 26 L.Ed.2d 489 (1970); see also, State v. Freber, 366 So.2d 426 (Fla. 1978).
STATE of Florida, Petitioner,
v.
William E. FREBER, Respondent.
53037.
Supreme Court of Florida.
Dec 21, 1978.
366 So. 2d 426
Overton.
Cited by 59 opinions  |  Published

Robert L. Shevin, Atty. Gen., and Joy B. Shearer, Asst. Atty. Gen., West Palm Beach, for petitioner.

Richard L. Jorandby, Public Defender, and Jerry L. Schwarz, Asst. Public Defender, West Palm Beach, for respondent.

OVERTON, Judge.

This cause is before the Court on petition for writ of certiorari to review the decision of the District Court of Appeal, Fourth District, reported at 352 So.2d 106 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977). That decision conflicts with Willis v. State, 217 So.2d 106 (Fla. 1968), and Williams v. State, 350 So.2d 842 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977). We have jurisdiction.[1]

The issue is whether evidence of a prior out-of-court identification is admissible when the witness is unable to identify the[*427] defendant at trial. We hold that if the original identifying witness testifies at trial concerning a prior identification, testimony of a witness who observed the identification is admissible as substantive evidence of identity.

The respondent Freber was charged by information with breaking and entering a dwelling house with intent to commit a misdemeanor. Three witnesses testified for the State: Mrs. Etta Hayes, owner of the house, and Thomas Thompson and John Carroll, deputy sheriffs.

Mrs. Hayes was a nurse's aide and occasionally had welfare patients live with her. On the morning of the burglary she was awakened by the sound of running water and went to investigate. She found a stranger in the bathroom who said he had mistakenly entered the wrong house and fled despite her attempt to restrain him.

Mrs. Hayes testified that later on the morning of the burglary the deputies brought a suspect to her home. She testified that she identified the suspect as the burglar at that time and that she had no doubt that at the time she made the identification she had been correct. When asked to identify the burglar in the courtroom, Mrs. Hayes stated that although the respondent Freber resembled the man, she could not be certain because his hair was a different length.

Deputy Thompson testified that he had arrested a suspect and transported him to the scene of the burglary. He indicated at the trial that Freber was the man he had brought to the Hayes' home that morning. Thompson was asked whether Mrs. Hayes had identified Freber as the burglar. Over defense counsel's objection, he was allowed to testify that she had made the identification.

Deputy Carroll also testified that he was present when Freber was shown to Mrs. Hayes and that she identified Freber as the man who had been in her home.

Freber was found guilty by a jury. On appeal, the District Court of Appeal, Fourth District, reversed, relying upon Laws v. State, 356 So.2d 7 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977), and the fact that the respondent had objected to the testimony in a timely fashion.

Both the State and Freber rely upon this Court's decision in Willis v. State, supra, to support their contentions. The trial court in Willis had admitted testimony by a police officer that two identification witnesses made prior extrajudicial identifications of the defendant. The First District Court of Appeal affirmed the resulting conviction, stating:

From our study of these decisions we are of the view that the better rule, and the one more consistent with the orderly administration of the criminal law, holds that such testimony is admissible and not objectionable on the ground of hearsay... . All courts seem to be agreed, however, that such testimony cannot be considered by a jury as original or substantive evidence as to the identity of the accused as a guilty party, but may be considered in corroboration of the testimony of the identifying witness at the trial. Willis v. State, 208 So.2d 458, 459 (Fla. 1st DCA 1968).

We denied certiorari but, in doing so, approved the above quotation from the First District Court of Appeal decision as an accurate expression of the prevailing law.

The respondent in the instant case contends that Willis requires an in-court identification by a witness before testimony about a prior out-of-court identification may be admitted, and then only as corroboration of the identification in the courtroom. If no in-court identification occurs, the respondent asserts that the testimony is hearsay and inadmissible.

The State asserts that the Willis decision does not require an in-court identification, rather, it simply mandates that the identifying witness be present in court and available for cross-examination. The State takes the view that when a witness states that an out-of-court identification was made, any testimony regarding a prior identification is merely corroborative.

We hold that the testimony in the instant case was admissible despite its hearsay characteristics. Hearsay testimony is[*428] generally inadmissible for three reasons. First, the declarant is not testifying under oath. Second, the declarant is not in court for the trier of fact to observe his or her demeanor. Third, and of prime importance, the declarant is not subjected to cross-examination in order to test the truth of the statement. 5 Wigmore, Evidence § 1362 (Chadbourn rev. 1974); McCormick, Evidence § 245 (2d ed. 1972). In the instant case, Mrs. Hayes took the stand and testified concerning her prior identification. Therefore, the defendant was allowed an opportunity to confront and cross-examine the hearsay declarant, Mrs. Hayes, and the prime dangers of hearsay testimony were avoided.

There is an additional factor that persuades us that this evidence should be admissible. In our view, an identification made shortly after the crime is inherently more reliable than a later identification in court.[2] The fact that the witness could identify the respondent when the incident was still so fresh in her mind is of obvious probative value. See State v. Ciongoli, 313 So.2d 41 (Fla. 4th DCA 1975), cert. discharged, 337 So.2d 780 (Fla. 1976). It is certainly not unusual for the appearance of a defendant to change in some way between his apprehension and trial. A holding not allowing this sort of testimony as substantive evidence of identity would encourage defendants to change their appearance before trial to avoid being identified in court. Without this proof that the person previously identified by the witness was the defendant, conviction would in some instances be impossible.

The modern trend to admit evidence of a prior out-of-court identification as substantive evidence of identity is illustrated by its adoption in several other jurisdictions. See Anderson v. Maggio, 555 F.2d 447 (5th Cir.1977); State v. Taylor, 99 Ariz. 151, 407 P.2d 106 (1965) (dictum); People v. Gould, 54 Cal.2d 621, 7 Cal. Rptr. 273, 354 P.2d 865 (1960); People v. Pew, 543 P.2d 86 (Colo. App. 1975); Johnson v. State, 237 Md. 283, 206 A.2d 138 (1965); Commonwealth v. Torres, 367 Mass. 737, 327 N.E.2d 871 (1975) (dictum); People v. Nival, 33 N.Y.2d 391, 353 N.Y.S.2d 409, 308 N.E.2d 883 (1974) (construing N.Y.Crim.Proc. Law § 60.25); State v. Fennell, 7 Or. App. 256, 489 P.2d 964 (1971); Lucas v. State, 160 Tex.Crim.R. 443, 271 S.W.2d 821 (1954); Niblett v. Commonwealth, 217 Va. 76, 225 S.E.2d 391 (1976).

We recognize that Willis v. State, supra, restricted this type of testimony to a corroborative function. It is our view, however, that this restriction regarding a prior identification is unnecessary. The prior identification is reliable evidence of identity, and the declarant's presence in court and availability for cross-examination eliminate the usual danger of hearsay testimony. For these reasons, we hold that testimony of a prior extrajudicial identification is admissible as substantive evidence of identity if the identifying witness testifies to the fact that a prior identification was made.[3] To the extent that Willis conflicts with this decision, it is overruled.

The decision of the District court is quashed and the matter remanded with instructions to reinstate the conviction.

It is so ordered.

ENGLAND, C.J., and ADKINS, BOYD and SUNDBERG, JJ., concur.

1 Art. V, § 3(b)(3), Fla. Const.
2 This is particularly so because of constitutional safeguards surrounding the identification process. The United States Supreme Court held in Stovall v. Denno, 388 U.S. 293, 87 S.Ct. 1967, 18 L.Ed.2d 1199 (1967), that an identification may be attacked as a denial of due process of law where the circumstances of the identification were unnecessarily suggestive and conducive to irreparable mistaken identification. See Foster v. California, 394 U.S. 440, 89 S.Ct. 1127, 22 L.Ed.2d 402 (1969); Dell v. State, 309 So.2d 52 (Fla.2d DCA 1975); Hamilton v. State, 303 So.2d 656 (Fla.2d DCA 1974).
3 The new Florida Evidence Code, which takes effect July 1, 1979, provides that this testimony is admissible as non-hearsay if the declarant testifies at trial and is subject to cross-examination concerning the identification. § 90.801(2)(c), Fla. Stat. (1977). Several other jurisdictions have also codified this rule, Fed.R. Evid. 801(d)(1)(C); Cal.Evid.Code, § 1238 (Deering); N.Y.Crim.Proc. Law § 60.25, and the leading commentators have approved. 4 Wigmore, Evidence § 1130 (Chadbourn rev. 1974); McCormick, Evidence § 251 (2d ed. 1972).