Ratio Decidendi
Where the prosecution case depends wholly or substantially on identification evidence, the judge must warn the jury of the special need for caution and direct them to examine the circumstances of the identification using the Turnbull guidelines.
Facts
Several appeals were heard together, all involving convictions based on visual identification evidence.
Judgment Summary
Lord Widgery CJ laid down guidelines for identification evidence. The jury must consider: the amount of time the witness observed the accused, the distance, lighting, whether the witness knew the accused, the time lapse between observation and identification, and any discrepancies.
Key Quotes
"The judge should direct the jury to examine closely the circumstances in which the identification by each witness came to be made."
— Lord Widgery CJ
Subsequent Treatment
The Turnbull guidelines remain the standard direction for identification evidence.