ABSTRACT
Eyewitness testimony that directly implicates an alleged perpetrator is compelling evidence in any trial and a single witness' identification can often be enough to obtain a conviction. Eyewitness testimony is still among the most prevalent and persuasive pieces of evidence used in the courtroom. Eyewitness identification procedures used in the United States and United Kingdom has some important differences. In the United States, live lineups and identification from arrays of photographs are both frequently used to collect formal eyewitness identification, whereas traditionally, in the United Kingdom, formal eyewitness identification evidence has typically been obtained from live/video lineups unless the suspect is not available and in which case still images may be used. Lineup composition is a primary issue in the eyewitness identification literature. A suitable lineup should contain a single suspect alongside a number of filler or foil members. In the legal context, the police will be uncertain about the suspect's guilt or innocence.
