Current legal and criminalistics possibilities in eyewitness identification procedure – a comparative analysis of German and Serbian standards

Abstract

The topic of the paper is comparative scientific research analyzing the possibilities in eyewitness identification procedures in the Federal Republic of Germany and Republic of Serbia, because of the fact that identification is one of the proving actions used in both states. In this paper, what will be considered is the advantages and disadvantages of identification procedures in these states, in order to propose an optimal procedure that would be equally objective and effective both for the witnesses and the suspect. Beside similarities in the implementation of the identification procedure in both states, there are some differences that are essentially based on normative rules, which regulate whether the police have the original authority to carry out this action or whether the authorization of a public prosecutor is required. Also, there are differences in forming the identification lineup and photo array, especially in terms of the number of people or photographs that should be presented to the eyewitness along with the suspect. The scientific justification of this paper is reflected in the fact that eyewitness identification requires clear standards for implementation, so there is a need to create adequate preconditions for using this proving action in criminal proceedings, especially in cases where there is a lack of material evidence.

Predmet rada je komparativna naučna analiza mogućnosti u sprovođenju postupka prepoznavanja od strane svedoka u Saveznoj Republici Nemačkoj i Republici Srbiji, zbog činjenice da prepoznavanje predstavlja jednu od dokaznih radnji u obe države. U radu će biti razmotrene prednosti i nedostaci postupka prepoznavanja u ovim državama, u cilju utvrđivanja optimalnog postupka koji bi podjednako bio efektivan i objektivan za svedoke i za osumnjičenog. Iako postoje sličnosti u sprovođenju postupka prepoznavanja, javljaju se i pojedine razlike koje suštinski proističu iz normativnih pravila kojima se utvrđuje da li policija ima izvorno ovlašćenje da sprovede ovu radnju ili je potrebna autorizacija od strane tužioca. Takođe, razlike su primetne i u pogledu načina formiranja linije za prepoznavanje i foto albuma, naročito u pogledu broja lica ili fotografija koje će biti predočene svedoku, zajedno sa osumnjičenim. Naučna opravdanost rada ogleda se u činjenici da je neophodno postojanje jasnih standarda u sprovođenju radnje prepoznavanja, te postoji i potreba za uspostavljanjem adekvatnih preduslova kako bi se ova radnja mogla koristiti u krivičnom postupku, naročito u slučajevima koje odlikuje nedostatatak materijalnih dokaza.