United States v. Grey Bear

JOHN R. GIBSON, Circuit Judge. These appeals arise from the roadside assault and death of Eddie Peltier and the resulting convictions of Richard LaFuente for first-degree murder, John Perez for second-degree murder, Jesse Cavanaugh, Loren Grey Bear and Perez for witness tampering, and Grey Bear and Leonard Fox for perjury. In our earlier panel decision, we held the evidence sufficient to sustain these convictions, but determined that the evidence was insufficient to sustain several other judgments of conviction entered against these appellants and others. See United States v. Grey Bear, 828 F.2d 1286 (8th Cir.1987). The panel also ruled that joinder was improper, leading to a rehearing en banc in which the court, by an equally divided vote, affirmed the district court’s ruling holding joinder to be proper. See United States v. Grey Bear, 863 F.2d 572 (8th Cir.1988) (en banc). We now consider the remaining issues not yet decided by either the original panel or the court en banc. The appellants primarily argue that the district court erred in framing jury instructions, in foreclosing cross-examination of one witness, and in permitting improper closing arguments. We have carefully considered all issues raised by appellants, and affirm the remaining judgments of conviction against each of them. I. Appellants argue that the district court improperly charged the jury with respect to the offenses of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, 18 U.S.C. § 113(f), and murder, 18 U.S.C. § 1111. In particular, they contend that Instruction 34 was constitutionally defective in that it directed the jury to escalate a conviction on the lesser charge of assault to one of murder merely upon a showing that the assault resulted in death. The instruction stated that if an assault inflicted serious bodily injury, and the victim died as a result of the injury, the crime of assault merges with that of homicide.1 The jury was told that if it found such injury and resulting death occurred, it was to determine “the form of homicide, if — 1385 — any, that the defendant may have committed.” The jury was further instructed that it could not find a defendant guilty of both homicide and assault. Appellants maintain that this instruction sidestepped the required element of criminal intent for murder. Appellants similarly argue that Instruction 37 was defective in that, with regard to “an assault which results in serious bodily injury or death,” it provided that “it is not necessary for the government to prove” that a defendant intended to cause death.2 Appellants failed to object to Instruction 34, and, while objection was made in passing to Instruction 37, the particular arguments now presented regarding that instruction were not presented to the district court. We therefore review any challenge to those instructions on a plain error basis. See Fed.R.Crim.P. 30; United States v. Martin, 751 F.2d 258, 261 (8th Cir.1984); United States v. Hecht, 705 F.2d 976, 978-79 (8th Cir.1983); United States v. Parisien, 574 F.2d 974, 976 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 850, 99 S.Ct. 154, 58 L.Ed.2d 154 (1978). Moreover, if there were plain error, it affected only Richard LaFuente, who was convicted of first-degree murder, and John Perez, who was convicted of second-degree murder. The error, if any, had no prejudicial effect with respect to the convictions of Cavanaugh, Grey Bear and Perez for witness tampering or Grey Bear or Fox for perjury. Finally, jury instructions must be viewed as a whole, and we will not find error in a portion of one instruction without considering the instructions in their entirety. United States v. Kabat, 797 F.2d 580, 588 (8th Cir.1986), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1030, 107 S.Ct. 1958, 95 L.Ed.2d 530 (1987). Here, the role of the challenged instructions is apparent. Instruction 34 dealt with the interaction between charges of assault and homicide, and with respect to a conviction on homicide required the jury to refer to other instructions “heretofor [sic] given pertaining to first degree murder and the lesser included offenses of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter.”3 Appellants do not submit that these other — 1386 — instructions erred in defining the various degrees of homicide, and we observe that in each instance these instructions expressly required the jury to find an appropriate level of intent. The purpose of Instruction 34 was to inform the jury that it could not return a verdict finding the same defendant guilty of both assault and homicide. The instruction’s specific reference to other instructions on assault and homicide directed the jury to requirements in those instructions that it find intent in order to convict. That every paragraph of Instruction 34 did not refer to intent, therefore, does not render it plainly erroneous. And, contrary to appellants’ argument, the instruction did not require the jury to find each of the defendants guilty of some form of murder; it stated that where an assault results in death, the jury must determine the form of homicide, “if any,” that may have been committed. This clearly allowed the jury to find a defendant guilty of murder, of manslaughter, or of nothing at all. The instruction concluded that the jury may find defendants guilty of homicide, of assault, “or for that matter not guilty of any offense” if that result was consistent with the facts “and these instructions.” In guiding the deliberations of the jury, the instruction thus simply informed it of the available choices. Instruction 37 did not refer specifically to other instructions. In defining the offense of assault resulting in serious bodily injury or death, however, it expressly required the jury to find that a defendant was a participant and not simply a knowing spectator. The instruction accurately reflects the case law interpreting 18 U.S.C. § 113(f), which appellants were alleged to have violated under Count Two of their indictment. See United States v. Knife, 592 F.2d 472, 483 (8th Cir.1979) (no specific intent to cause serious bodily injury need be proven); United States v. Eagle, 586 F.2d 1193, 1196 (8th Cir.1978). We need not determine that the instruction is a model to ascertain that it is free from plain error. Here, Instruction 37 placed sufficient limits on the jury’s deliberations with regard to the charges of assault. Although these two instructions perhaps could have been more carefully drafted, the factual circumstances of this case made their submission understandable. The evidence established that a series of confrontations occurred between Peltier and a group of individuals. On two occasions, Peltier broke away, only to be pursued and caught. Testimony identified various appellants as participating in some of these confrontations, but not in others. The assault was ongoing and took place over some distance. Under the doctrine of merger, however, an individual once found guilty of murder could not also be separately punished for assault for the same acts. See generally 40 C.J.S. Homicide § 20 (1944 & Supp.1989) (citing cases). While the nature of these events therefore justified charging all defendants with both assault resulting in serious bodily injury and homicide, it was apparent that some could be found guilty of assault while others could be convicted on the more serious charges of murder or manslaughter. Explicit instruction concerning the relationship between these charges undoubtedly was helpful to the jury, and we conclude there is no plain error in the submission of Instructions 34 and 37. II. Appellants also urge error in the district court’s failure to adopt their tendered instruction on eyewitness identification. Although the jury was instructed as to issues of credibility,4 appellants contend — 1387 — that the district court’s charge was inadequate in failing to conform with the instruction on eyewitness identification established in United States v. Telfaire, 469 F.2d 552, 558-59 (D.C.Cir.1972), as it is reversible error to refuse such an instruction where the government’s case rests solely on questionable eyewitness identification. United States v. Mays, 822 F.2d 793, 798 (8th Cir.1987). In particular, appellants assert that Instruction 54 was defective in that it did not expressly command the jury to consider the condition of each witness while allegedly observing Eddie Peltier’s killing.5 They stress that one witness, Fred Peltier, had consumed fifteen cans of beer and smoked two or three joints of marijuana on the day of Peltier’s death, and that other witnesses similarly — 1388 — suffered from diminished capacity from drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana. The jury, however, was specifically directed to consider the ability of each witness to observe matters on which the witness had testified. It was told to question whether each witness possessed an accurate recollection of these matters. It was further told that, in evaluating identification testimony, it should consider “whether the witness had an adequate opportunity to observe the person in question at the time or times about which the witness testified,” and also “such matters as the length of time the witness had to observe the person in question, the prevailing conditions at that time in terms of visibility or distance and the like, and whether the witness had known or observed the person at earlier times.” This instruction adequately pointed out the relevant considerations to be weighed in gauging eyewitness testimony. The jury was instructed to consider each witness’s intelligence, motive, memory, and state of mind, along with the conditions prevailing at the time of observation. With regard to the drunkenness of some witnesses, the district court appropriately instructed the jury to consider each witness’s ability to observe matters testified to, as well as his opportunity to observe the persons in question. We are satisfied that Instruction 54 afforded defense counsel ample latitude to argue that the observational capacity of certain witnesses was impaired by their drunken state.6 The instruction given properly guided the jury’s deliberation, and it was not error to refuse the tendered instruction.7 III. Appellants next assert that they were denied their sixth amendment right to confrontation because the district court prohibited defense counsel from cross-examining witness Billy Fox, and that the government’s use of Fox at trial was an abuse of — 1389 — Fed.R.Evid. 607. Fox had originally testified before the grand jury that he knew nothing about the suspected murder. After other witnesses came forward, however, and Fox was indicted for perjury,8 he gave a statement to the FBI in which he indicated that he was present at the party which took place at the residence of Bernice Juarez, and later that night watched Peltier being beaten and run over on the highway. Fox listed the names of the individuals he saw at the party and those participating in the beating of Peltier. Fox later recanted the statement. During trial, the government obtained immunity for Fox. When called to the stand by the government and questioned regarding his whereabouts on the night Peltier was killed, Fox answered that he was at home. In order to impeach Fox, the prosecution then read to Fox excerpts from his earlier statements to the FBI, but omitted the names of the individuals set forth in the statement. While he admitted making these statements, Fox persisted in maintaining that he was not present at the site of Peltier’s death. At no point did appellants object either to the calling or to the impeachment of Fox. Following Fox’s direct examination, defense counsel began cross-examining him, attempting to explore Fox’s reasons for changing testimony. The government quickly objected, arguing that the line of questioning exceeded the proper scope of cross-examination. Defense counsel responded with an offer of proof concerning the content of Fox’s proposed testimony. The district court nevertheless sustained the government’s objection to any cross-examination of Fox on grounds that Fox’s testimony to that point, after impeachment, stood as a nullity. The district court then instructed the jury that it was not to consider Fox’s prior inconsistent statements as substantive evidence against the defendants.9 Although appellants later called Fox as their own witness, they suggest that they were compelled to do so in order to permit him to explain his motive for providing the statement to the FBI. Appellants argue that this did not cure the sixth amendment violation resulting from their inability to cross-examine Fox at the time he gave his initial testimony. They further contend that by instructing the jury to disregard Fox’s testimony as “no evidence at all,” the district court discredited a potential witness on their behalf. In essence, appellants maintain that the government improperly called Fox for the sole purpose of presenting inadmissible evidence under the guise of impeachment. See United States v. Fay, 668 F.2d 375, 379 (8th Cir.1981) (impeachment may not be used as a subterfuge to place otherwise inadmissible hearsay before the jury). In support of their motion for a new trial, appellants submitted an affidavit in which Fox’s attorney, Joel Arnason, averred that he had notified the government before trial that Fox had renounced his statement to the FBI. When Arnason, Fox, and an assistant district attorney later met, according to the affidavit, neither Fox nor Arna-son indicated that Fox, would in the future claim anything other than a complete lack of knowledge regarding Peltier’s death. The assistant district attorney indicated at this meeting that Fox’s testimony could not harm the government because the prosecution would impeach Fox with his prior statements to the FBI were Fox to deny knowledge of Peltier’s killing. This, in ap — 1390 — pellants’ view, establishes that the government called Fox as a witness merely to impeach him with his otherwise inadmissible statements. In ruling on appellants’ motion for a new trial, the district court determined that “the prosecution appears to have exercised good faith in impeaching Billy Fox.” The court reasoned that although the prosecution was aware that Fox had recanted his statement to the FBI, the government’s attorneys could not be certain as to how Fox would testify at trial, when he was under oath and after he had been granted immunity. The court found that the government in impeaching Fox had demonstrated its good faith by omitting all references to the names of defendants and other individuals from the impeaching statements. It further relied for evidence of good faith on the government's decision not to call two other witnesses, Kevin and Bruce Mindt, who like Fox had given inculpatory statements only later to recant them, and who like Fox were then charged with perjury. A finding by a district court is entitled to great deference and may not be rejected unless clearly erroneous. Anderson v. City of Bessemer City, 470 U.S. 564, 573-75, 105 S.Ct. 1504, 84 L.Ed.2d 518 (1985); cf. United States v. Aviles, 337 F.2d 552, 559-60 (2d Cir.1964) (finding that government exercised good faith in destroying interview notes reviewed under clearly erroneous standard). Here, the district court’s finding as to prosecutorial good faith was supported by ample basis in fact. Fox first denied any knowledge of Peltier’s death. After others later identified him at the scene and after he was then indicted, Fox gave full statements to the FBI incriminating several individuals. This statement was later formally recanted. Where Fox so waivered, first claiming no knowledge, later providing a narrative in detail, and then recanting it, the government reasonably suggests that it was unsure as to what Fox would say when tested under oath, especially under a grant of immunity after perjury charges were pending against him. The circumstances surrounding Fox’s testimony establish that the government did not call Fox as a subterfuge to place otherwise inadmissible hearsay before the jury. See United States v. Rogers, 549 F.2d 490, 497 (8th Cir.1976), cert. denied, 431 U.S. 918, 97 S.Ct. 2182, 53 L.Ed.2d 229 (1977). Although the government at one point told Fox that he would be impeached with the FBI statements if he persisted in his denials, this does not establish that the prosecution felt certain of the content of Fox’s prospective testimony. Instead, this simply represents one lawful attempt by the government to induce Fox to testify truthfully. We reject the claims of error. IV. Appellants further claim that the district court allowed prosecutorial misconduct in that the government pressed upon the jurors a “guilt by association” trial strategy. During closing argument, a prosecutor stated that the defendants “rehearsed in lockstep, and they testified the same way.” The government also maintained that, if the jury found that a party at the Juarez residence had indeed occurred, the jury must find that each defendant was culpable. A prosecutor stated at one point that “if one is guilty, it’s a pretty fair conclusion that all are guilty. That’s the choice they made when they testified on the witness stand.” The government concluded its case by telling the jurors that this was an “all or nothing case, all guilty or all not guilty.” Although stripped from context these statements seem troublesome, we discover no reversible error here. We observe, first, that no contemporaneous objection was made to any of these statements.10 We therefore review the prosecution’s closing arguments under the plain error standard. See United States v. Young, 470 U.S. 1, 14-16, 105 S.Ct. 1038, 1045-1047, 84 L.Ed.2d 1 (1985). Here, we cannot conclude that the district court committed — 1391 — plain error in permitting the prosecution to argue as it did. All of the appellants testified in attempting to establish alibis. The predominant theory of the defense was that there had been no party at the Juarez residence, no fight alongside the highway, and no murder of Peltier. Against such a defense, the government was entitled to argue that the testimony of defense witnesses left no middle ground and that, if the party took place, which each defendant denied, an inference arose that each was culpable to some extent. The prosecution’s arguments were properly tailored to the record before the jury, and argued permissible inferences from the evidence. The defense adopted the position that if the government failed to prove that all defendants were guilty, the case for the prosecution collapsed.11 The government’s closing argument merely responded to this argument, and it made plain that if the evidence was sufficient to convict some defendants but not others, the jury was obligated to find those latter defendants not guilty.12 It is well established that “prejudicial error does not result from the improper remarks made during closing argu — 1392 — ment when such remarks were provoked by opposing counsel.” United States v. Schwartz, 655 F.2d 140, 142 (8th Cir.1981) (per curiam) (citing Isaacs v. United States, 301 F.2d 706, 738 (8th Cir.), cert. denied, 371 U.S. 818, 83 S.Ct. 32, 9 L.Ed.2d 58 (1962)). Much evidence suggested that Eddie Peltier’s death was brought about by mob action, and the government presented testimony that each of the defendants participated in the beating. The appellants’ evidence similarly indicated group action of a peculiar sort — that none were present at the Juarez residence and none knew about Peltier’s death. The instructions given by the court admonished the jury that it was to consider individually the evidence against each defendant and to acquit those for whom there was insufficient evidence of guilt.13 In light of this record we cannot conclude that plain error was committed. Appellants also argue that the government improperly vouched for the credibility of its witnesses. At one point in closing argument, the prosecution asked, “Don’t you think over the years of experience we have picked up a little bit of sense of what rings true in a criminal investigation and what rings true in a case?” In commenting upon one witness, the prosecution further argued that “she and others who testified are, from the perspective of the government, the most believable and I will tell you why.” We are satisfied that by these statements the prosecution did not improperly vouch for the testimony of its witnesses. Nothing in the record indicates that personal reputations of the government attorneys were placed behind the testimony of their witnesses. Indeed, prosecutors, as well as defense lawyers, may and must argue as to the credibility of witnesses, and in a case of this kind the issue of credibility is critical. The very nature of closing argument requires a detailed analysis of the testimony of each witness and the inferences to be drawn from the evidence. We are satisfied that the government’s arguments were within permissible limits and did not imply that the government possessed knowledge concerning facts not in evidence. See United States v. Eley, 723 F.2d 1522, 1526 (11th Cir.1984). We cannot conclude that there was plain error in allowing these closing arguments. V. Appellants also attack their convictions in several ways which merit no more than summary consideration. They first contend that the district court erred in failing to permit their expert witness, Dr. Jerry Baldwin, to state that the opinions of two other pathologists agreed with his own. We are persuaded that Fed.R.Evid. 703 does not permit an expert witness to circumvent the rules of hearsay by testify — 1393 — ing that other experts, not present in the courtroom, corroborate his views. Claiming that the jury was possibly tainted by pre-trial publicity, appellants also argue that the district court erred in denying their motion for change of venue or, in the alternative, for individually sequestered voir dire of prospective jurors. Appellants present no evidence of actual juror prejudice, however, and absent such evidence the court was not required to grant their motion. See generally United States v. Haldeman, 559 F.2d 81, 68-69 (D.C.Cir.1976), cert. denied, 431 U.S. 933, 97 S.Ct. 2641, 53 L.Ed.2d 250 (1977). Because the courthouse located within the venue of appellants’ charged offenses, the Northweastern Division of the District of North Dakota, lacked adequately sized courtrooms, appellants’ trial was held in the Southeastern Division. Appellants argue that the district court erred in drawing the jury panel from the Southeastern Division rather than the Northeastern because in so doing the court excluded Native Americans from the pool of prospective jurors, violating the sixth amendment and the Jury Selection and Service Act of 1968, 28 U.S.C. § 1861 et seq. Although appellants do present some conclusory allegations in this regard, we conclude that they have failed to present facts sufficient to establish that Native Americans were systematically excluded from the jury selection process. See United States v. Turcotte, 558 F.2d 893, 895 (8th Cir.1977). Fourth, appellant LaFluente argues that the district court should have permitted broader redirect examination of defense witness Colleen Dunn. We are satisfied that the matter which appellants wished to explore was collateral, and the record reveals that the district court did not abuse its discretion in this regard. LaFuente argues, fifth, that the district court erred in requiring defendants to turn over to the prosecution a “memorandum of interview” taken from defense witness Kevin Brownshield. Appellant contends that the memorandum did not constitute a “statement” under Fed.R. Crim.P. 26.2(f)(1). A review of the record discloses substantial support for the court’s finding that Brownshield’s statement was a “written statement made by the witness that is * * * adopted or approved by the witness.” The district court did not err in ordering disclosure of the statement. Sixth, appellants argue that the district court erred in failing to allow access to the medical records of witness Patricia DeMarce, which were inspected by the court in camera. Appellants have demonstrated no abuse of discretion. Indeed, to the extent these records may have been relevant, both direct and cross-examination brought out the fact that DeMarce delivered a baby several weeks prior to Peltier’s murder. Finally, appellants all argue that the district court erred in allowing the prosecution to ask leading questions during its direct examination of DeMarce, and that this, in allowing government attorneys to testify in place of DeMarce herself, violated appellants’ sixth amendment right of confrontation. The record reveals that leading questions were used infrequently and judiciously in order to develop testimony given by an unusually softspoken and frightened witness. Such questioning is not improper. See Fed.R.Evid. 611(c) (permitting use of leading questions on preliminary matters essential to the development of testimony). Accordingly, we affirm the judgments of conviction. Footnotes [1] Instruction 34 read in its entirety: If the jury unanimously finds that an assault occurred and that the assault inflicted serious bodily injury on the victim as a result of which the victim died, the crime of assault merges with some form of homicide, that is first degree murder, second degree murder or voluntary manslaughter. If the jury determines that a defendant committed an assault on the victim, which resulted in the victim’s death, the jury must then determine the form of homicide, if any, that the defendant may have committed. That determination should be made pursuant to the instructions heretofor [sic] given pertaining to first degree murder and the lesser included offenses — 1385 — of second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. Thus, the jury should not return verdicts finding a defendant guilty of both the homicide charges found in Count One of the indictment and the assault resulting in serious bodily injury charges found in Count Two of the indictment. If you have found a defendant guilty of the charges made in Count One, or any lesser included offense thereof, you cannot find that defendant guilty of the charge alleged in Count Two of the indictment. A homicide verdict does not, of course, follow automatically from a jury’s determination that a defendant has committed the offense of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, simply because the victim had died shortly after the assault. The jury must first determine if the defendant’s action resulted in the victim’s death. In other words, was the victim’s death caused, at least in part, by injuries sustained in a beating the defendant knowingly and willfully participated in or did the victim die as the sole result of some other cause. The facts pertaining to each defendant must be judged separately. The fact that you may find some of the defendants guilty of a homicide does not prevent you from finding other defendants guilty only of an assault resulting in serious bodily injury or for that matter not guilty of any offense if that result is consistent with the facts as you find them and these instructions. [2] Instruction 37 read in its entirety: With regard to an assault which results in serious bodily injury or death, it is not necessary that the blows struck by any one individual defendant be sufficient in and of themselves to cause serious bodily injury or death. Likewise, it is not necessary for the government to prove that any one defendant intended to cause serious bodily injury or death. It is sufficient if the evidence shows beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant was a knowing and willful participant in an assault which in fact caused serious bodily injury or death and that such serious bodily injury or death was not simply an unforeseeable or unanticipated consequence of the defendant's participation. Mere presence at the scene of the crime and knowledge that a crime is being committed are not sufficient to establish that the defendant aided and abetted the crime. You must find beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was a participant and not merely a knowing spectator. (Emphasis added.) [3] Instruction 17 set forth four elements of first-degree murder (including malice aforethought), Instruction 20 defined malice aforethought, Instruction 25 set forth three elements of second-degree murder (including malice aforethought), Instruction 28 set forth four elements of voluntary manslaughter, and Instructions 31 and 32 defined assault and set forth four elements of that crime. [4] Instruction 54 read in its entirety: You, as jurors, are the sole judges of the credibility of the witnesses and the weight their testimony deserves. You should carefully scrutinize all the testimony given, the circumstances under which each witness has testified, and every matter in evidence that tends to show whether a witness is worthy of belief. Consider each witness’s intelligence, motive and state of mind, and demeanor and manner while on the stand. Consider the witness’s ability to observe the matters as to which he has testified and whether he impresses you as having an accurate recollection of these matters. Consider also any relation each witness may bear to either side of the case; the manner in which each witness might be affected by the verdict; the extent to which, if at all, the testimony of each witness is either supported or contradict — 1387 — ed by other evidence in the case; and any demonstrated bias, prejudice, hostility or sympathy of a witness. Inconsistencies or discrepancies in the testimony of a witness, or between the testimony of different witnesses, may or may not cause the jury to discredit such testimony. Two or more persons witnessing an incident or transaction may see or hear it differently; and innocent misrecollection, like failure of recollection, is not an uncommon experience. In weighing the effect of a discrepancy, always consider whether it pertains to a matter of importance or an unimportant detail, and whether the discrepancy results from innocent error or intentional falsehood. In this case the prosecution asserts the death of the alleged victim Eddie Peltier followed a party in the area of the residence of Bernice Cavanaugh Juarez and has presented evidence including eye witness testimony in support of its contention that each of the defendants were present in the area and participated in the alleged assault and murder of the victim. Each of the defendants has denied being present at the alleged time and place and has presented evidence including eye witness testimony in support of his contention that there was no party in the area of the Juarez residence, and that he was elsewhere at the time and place of the alleged incident. In evaluating the identification testimony of a witness you should consider all of the factors already mentioned concerning your assessment of the credibility of any witness in general, and should also consider, in particular, whether the witness had an adequate opportunity to observe the person in question at the time or times about which the witness testified. You may consider, in that regard, such matters as the length of time the witness had to observe the person in question, the prevailing conditions at that time in terms of visibility or distance and the like, and whether the witness had known or observed the person at earlier times. After making your own judgment, you will give the testimony of each witness such credibility, if any, as you may think it deserves. [5] Defendants’ proposed instruction was substantially more detailed than Instruction 54. It read: EYEWITNESS IDENTIFICATIONS You heard witnesses identify the defendants as being the same persons who were at the scene of the incident. You must decide whether to believe this identification and how much weight to give it. There are a number of factors that may have an effect on the reliability of identifications. You should consider the following: 1. The conditions under which the identification was made. Lighting, distractions, weather, and other things may affect a witness’ ability to observe. The distance of the witness from the events observed and the length of time that the witness observed events may affect an identification. 2. The condition of the witness at the time of any observation. Eyesight, hearing and other senses of people may vary. The witness’ state of mind — whether one of excitement, fear, or emotional disturbance — may affect an identification. The witness' activity — whether the witness was paying attention to events — may also be important. 3. The relationship of the witness to the person identified. It might be important how long and how well a witness knew a person before making an identification. 4. The consistency and certainty of the identification. Initial descriptions by a witness that do not match a defendant’s, or a witness’ initial inability to give a description immediately after seeing an event, may detract from the reliability of a later identification. 5. The length of time between an observation and an identification. Memories may fade as time passes. 6. The nature of the identification procedure. It is more significant if a witness is able to identify a person from among a group of similar people than to identify a person who is viewed alone. The reliability of the first identification a witness makes is the most important because subsequent identifications might be affected by the first one. Suggestions made to a witness may affect the reliability of the identification. You may find additional factors useful when you evaluate eyewitness testimony. It is for you to decide whether the identification is reliable and what weight to give it. [6] At one point in closing arguments, for instance, counsel for defendant Roger Charbo-neau stated: Mylo Smith. I think it’s pretty clear that Mylo couldn't see anything. All he saw was shadows and to say Mylo was drinking is a real understatement. A young man that age had had probably 12 beers, a third of a liter of whiskey and a pint of screwdrivers is more than drunk. And his testimony, what he could tell us about it, showed it. I don't know how to explain it to you other than an old story I heard years ago that you could describe him as knee walking, nose barfing, toilet hugging drunk. In his case it was a wishing well hugging drunk. And that’s drunk. He was throwing up, we know that. He doesn’t remember how he got there, he doesn’t remember how he got home, he doesn’t remember anything but shadows, with one exception, he could hear what was going on three football fields away. Now I don’t know how many of you have ever been that drunk, I know I have, and at that point I wasn’t trying to hear what was going on, I was more worried if the toilet seat would come down and hit me in the back of the head. He wasn’t wondering and worrying about what, who was doing what, he was trying to stay alive out there because he was so sick and I think that carries over into his statement. He couldn't even tell us what day they took his statement. (Tr. of closing argument for Roger Charboneau at 25-26.) [7] Appellant LaFuente further argues that the district court erred in giving Instruction 57A concerning missing eyewitnesses. He contends that the government improperly stated at closing argument that defendants’ witnesses failed to provide certain information to the jury, and that Instruction 57A prevented defendants' counsel from commenting on the government’s failure to call crucial eyewitnesses. After examining the record, we conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in handling this matter. See United States v. Sblendorio, 830 F.2d 1382, 1390-94 (7th Cir.1987), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 108 S.Ct. 1034, 98 L.Ed.2d 998 (1988). LaFuente also contends that the district court erred in failing to give defendants' Proposed Instruction 26, which related to the veracity of eyewitnesses identification and which stated, in part, that the testimony of prosecution witnesses should be examined most cautiously because the charge made against defendants was one "easily made and once made is difficult to disprove, even if the defendants are innocent.” We have held that while such an instruction may be appropriate in certain sexual offense cases, it “is particularly argumentative and should not be given where there is corroboration of the complaining witness’s testimony." United States v. Merrival, 600 F.2d 717, 719 (8th Cir.1979). Here, several witnesses testified against the accused, and the district court fully instructed the jury on issues of credibility and eyewitness identification. The court did not err in refusing Proposed Instruction 26. [8] Fox subsequently was convicted of perjury. [9] The court instructed the jury: Members of the jury, the witness was called and he stated, as you heard, that he was not present at the Juarez residence at the time on the early morning hours of August 28, 1983. He then admitted on questioning by Mr. Crooks representing the prosecution in the case that he had made prior inconsistent statements to Mr. Hellekson. Now those prior inconsistent statements cannot be considered as evidence in the case. They are simply offered to impeach the witness, the witness’ statement that, as to when he was asked whether he was in the vicinity of the Juarez residence on the early morning hours of August 27th, and so the net effect of it all is that there has been no evidence at all presented by this witness for the jury to consider in the determination of whether or not the United States has proved the charges it has made against these Defendants. (Tr. 1737-38.) [10] Indeed, appellants failed to raise their "all or nothing” argument before the original panel of this court, except in their reply brief when discussing the issue of misjoinder. [11] At closing argument, for instance, counsel for Leonard Fox stated: It's the domino effect. Not only do they have to show each and every one of these eleven people participated, they also have to show that each and every person that they claim was at Bernice Juarez’ was in fact there or again their case fails. ****** Remember that [if] the Government has failed to prove any of the charges against any of these boys, their case collapses, falls apart. (Tr. of closing argument for Leonard Fox at 8-9.) [12] The government conceded this in a passage of closing argument immediately following the portion challenged by appellants: It’s quite apparent these defendants, and I speak of them personally, not their lawyers, have concluded that if they just stick together, claim that there was no party, they will all escape. Ben Franklin’s angry at the start of the Revolutionary War, we either hang together or we’ll all hang separately. Certainly some basis for that belief. It worked for two years, case was unsolved for that period of time. But, again, the key to that argument is that there was no party, no government witnesses, it’s all made up, every bit of it is made up. They obviously don't invite you to consider the other side of the coin. If there was a party, if the witnesses really were there, then the conclusion becomes almost inescapable that each defendant is in fact culpable. There is simply no good reason for them to deny their presence at Bernice Juarez’ residence if they are just innocent bystanders. They can become a Fred Peltier very easily, they can become Shirley Greywater very easily, they had no part in that beating, but their all or nothing defense becomes just that, if one is guilty, it's pretty fair conclusion that all are guilty. That’s the choice they made when they testified on that witness stand. The converse of that, of course, is not true as Mr. Fraase suggested. He suggested that if any one of these people were not there, then the entire case crumbles, and again how does that follow. Let’s assume for a second that a mistake was made. Picking one at random, Terry Dunn. Let’s assume that all these recollections with the booze, with the lack of light, et cetera, people have identified Terry Dunn as being there, in fact he really wasn’t and you conclude that, what does that do for the rest of them unless you also conclude that nobody was there, including the witnesses. The all or nothing doesn’t work the way Mr. Fraase said because you have to judge each of these defendants individually. I agree with that. And if you conclude that the government’s evidence is sufficient on some, not on others, then it’s your obligation to let that one go. But it doesn’t work like Mr. Fraase said because you let one go, you let them all go. Listen to the Court’s instructions, I don't think that will be a problem at all. (Tr. of government’s closing argument at 120-22) (emphasis added). Shortly thereafter, the government twice again directed the jury to weigh the case against each defendant individually: Some of you obviously are going to have an uneasy feeling, as I do, that the evidence does not establish with any great precision exactly what each of these defendants did, because certainly that’s true, and it’s legitimate to have concern about that because you have got to look at each of these defendants individually. That’s what the Court will tell you. ****** Judge this case as carefully as you can. If you feel with regard to some of these individuals that the proof is insufficient, then by all means do your duty, let them go. But if you feel that these people have done what we have charged and you feel that beyond a reasonable doubt, then justice requires that these men be convicted. That’s the way this system works. (Tr. of government’s closing argument at 122-23, 126.) [13] In its pretrial instruction, the district court stated to the jury: The jury is going to have to make a separate determination as to each of the 11 defendants and the charges that have been made against each of the 11 defendants, and in making that determination, the jury is going to have to determine whether or not as to each of the defendants the United States has proved the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. (Tr. 31.) In its midtrial instruction, the court explained to the jury: And as I will remind you, that I told you at the time that we were selecting, in the process of selecting a jury, that it's going to be the duty of the jury to give separate personal consideration to the case of each individual defendant and when you do so you should analyze the evidence, what the evidence in the case shows with respect to each individual defendant. In other words, you must determine if, where evidence has been admitted solely against one defendant, as I indicated, you must consider that evidence only against that defendant. (Tr. 2865-66.) Instruction 9 stated: A separate crime or offense is charged against one or more of the defendants in each count of the indictment. Each offense and the evidence pertaining to it should be considered separately. Also, it is your duty to give separate consideration to the case of each individual defendant. When you do so, you should analyze what the evidence in the case shows with respect to that individual, leaving out of consideration entirely any evidence admitted solely against some other defendant or defendants. Each defendant is entitled to have his case determined from evidence as to his own acts, statements and conduct, and any other evidence in the case which may be applicable to him. Finally, the closing paragraph of Instruction 34 once more admonished the jury to judge separately the facts pertaining to each defendant. See supra note 1.