The prevalence of the weapon focus effect (WFE) has been frequently reported. The presence of multiple perpetrators can impair memory recall and identification accuracy, and angry expressions have been found to draw attention. The extent to which the presence of angry expression interacts with the WFE is poorly understood. The aim was to investigate how the factors of perpetrator size and expression interact with the WFE to affect recall and identification. This study was completed online. Participants (N= 127) witnessed a mock crime featuring one or two perpetrators displaying an angry or neutral expression. They completed a recall questionnaire, lineup task, and pre- and post-confidence ratings for each perpetrator they witnessed. Participants were provided with a weapon focus transcript or control transcript about misleading post-event information. Participants were generally underconfident in their lineup identifications, though this became less underconfident after viewing the lineup. An OYA revealed participants who witnessed the angry expression recalled significantly more person details than participants in the neutral condition. Participants who received the weapon lecture transcript recalled significantly less details relating to the object than participants who received the control transcript. A binomial logistic regression found the presence of two-perpetrators predicted target identification accuracy in the lineup, yet also predicted an increase in false identifications in target absent lineups. Receiving the weapon lecture transcript also predicted rates of false identifications in the lineup task. Implications extend into the legal system and need for caution when relying upon eyewitness identifications and testimonies.
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