In the circumstances, the potential for misidentification by this witness must be regarded as, at least, real. In particular, there can be seen to be a risk of wrong identification by reason of what has been termed the displacement effect and the possible contamination of her recollection as a consequence of her discussions with Ms Corpus. As Mason J stated in Alexander v R[11]-
"Identification is notoriously uncertain. It depends upon so many variables. They include the difficulty one has in recognizing on a subsequent occasion a person observed, perhaps fleetingly, on a former occasion; the extent of the opportunity for observation in a variety of circumstances; the vagaries of human perception and recollection; and the tendency of the mind to respond to suggestions, notably the tendency to substitute a photographic image once seen for a hazy recollection of the person initially observed."
34. Both Ms. Doogood and Mr. Laurenceson are certain as to their identification. Spigelman CJ (Heydon JA [as his Honour then was) & James J. agreeing) said in R -v- Marshall (2000) 113 A Crim R 190 at [15]-[16]:
The prejudice often associated with identification evidence is that, although mistaken, it is frequently given with great force and assurance by the person who made the identification. These are matters about which witnesses frequently refuse to admit the possibility that they might have erred and, accordingly, give evidence in a particularly definitive form.
It appears that his Honour was impressed by the way Mr Sams gave the evidence of identification and indeed made reference to Mr Sams' demeanour. However, it is the experience of the Court with respect to identification, that demeanour can be misleading.
35. There is other circumstantial evidence available to the Crown, in particular, the fact that the accused was in the general vicinity of the time. However, the effect of this evidence in my opinion is significantly blunted by the discrepancies between Ms. Doogood and Mr. Laurenceson on the descriptions. It would also seem to me that the usual warning to a jury on circumstantial evidence would need to be given.
The test to be applied
36. Section 62(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1986 provides:
"The magistrate must take the prosecution evidence in accordance with Division 3 and must determine whether the prosecution evidence is capable of satisfying a jury, properly instructed, beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person has committed an indictable offence".
37. Section 64 provides:
"When all the prosecution evidence and any defence evidence have been taken in committal proceedings, the Magistrate must consider all the evidence and determine whether or not in his or her opinion, having regard to all the evidence before the Magistrate, there is a reasonable prospect that a reasonable jury, properly instructed, would convict the accused person of an indictable offence".
38. Gleeson CJ (in dealing with now superseded but very similar legislation), in Allen & Saffron (1989) 43 A Crim R 1 said at p. 4: