People v. Brown

179 N.W.2d 58, 23 Mich. App. 528, 1970 Mich. App. LEXIS 1874

Opinion

McGregor, J.

This case must be decided on the facts. The law is clear. Does the trial court’s sua sponte discharge of a duly impaneled and sworn jury, on the third day of a murder trial of this defendant and others, preclude a second trial for the same offense under the constitutional provision prohibiting a person from being placed in jeopardy twice for the same offense, unless such action was with the consent or acquiescence of the defendant? See People v. Anglin (1967), 6 Mich App 666.

The pertinent but sometimes confusing facts are that, at approximately seven o’clock on the evening of December 22, 1966, this defendant, together with Harold Johnson and George Grimmett, bent upon robbery, entered the retail market of Shaker Aubrey, announced a holdup, and thereafter shot and killed him. The defendants were arrested and arraigned upon an arrest warrant which charged that they “feloniously, wilfully and of their malice aforethought did kill and murder one Shaker Aubrey, * * * contrary to the form of the statute, etc.” * At the conclusion of the preliminary examination proofs, on January 6, 1967, the magistrate bound the three defendants over for trial on the first-degree murder charge. Thereafter, the defendants were arraigned upon the information which charged them with first-degree murder, in language identical to that contained in the arrest warrant. A jury trial commenced on January 22, 1968, before the Honorable George W. Crockett, Jr., of the Recorder’s Court of the City of Detroit.

In his opening statement to the jury, the prosecutor stated:

“It is the position of the people that this crime was premeditated in accordance with a preconceived plan. That it was executed in the course of a robbery which had been agreed upon between the three defendants * # * we intend to prove to you these facts beyond a reasonable doubt.”

On the third day of the trial, the attorney for defendant Grimmett informed the court that his client desired to enter a plea of guilty of the offense of murder in the second degree, and it was contended by Grimmett’s attorney that the language of the offense as then charged in the information was that of second-degree murder only. Following legal argument between Judge Crockett and some of counsel, the trial judge agreed with defendant Grimmett’s attorney’s contention and ruled that the information merely charged second-degree murder. The court informed the trial prosecutor that he would permit an amendment to the information to provide for premeditation. Defendant Grimmett’s attorney maintained that the amendment would charge a more serious offense; in this he was joined by the attorney appearing on behalf of defendant Johnson, and both objected to the amendment. Counsel for this defendant remained silent and did not assent to the discharge of the jury. The trial judge, sua sponte, discharged the jury from further consideration of the case, following the granting of the prosecutor’s motion to amend the information.

On January 14, 1968, the three defendants were arraigned on an amended first-degree murder information and a new trial date was set. The denial of the defense motion to dismiss because of the former jeopardy of this defendant gives rise to this appeal.

The people in their brief have a pertinent paragraph :

“The cases of the People v. Gologonoff (1967), 6 Mich App 332 (leave to appeal denied by the Supreme Court October 12,1967, 379 Mich 783), and the People v. Dupuis (1963), 371 Mich 395, as construed by the court * * * had much to do in persuading the court to conclude that the information in the case being tried did not charge the offense of first-degree murder. The court was of the opinion that the language framing the charge did not contain or allege premeditation. The court appeared to be uncertain as to whether or not he could charge the jury on first-degree murder as the information was then worded. He asked the prosecutor:

“ ‘The Court: Do you think that under this indictment I can charge this jury on first-degree murder ?

“‘Mr. Weiswasser: Yes, your Honor. Especially if we amend the information and I can’t see any reason why not.’ ”

In Gologonoff, supra, the question was whether the jury verdict “guilty in manner and form as the people have in their information in this cause charged” convicted the defendant of first-degree murder and complied with the statute, CL 1948, §750.318 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.550), requiring the jury to ascertain in their verdict whether it he murder of the first or second degree. Our Court held that for such a general verdict to comply with the statute and to convict the defendant of first-degree murder, the information would have to contain the word “premeditation.” This Court did not hold that the information in Gologonoff, supra, was defective, nor that such information would not have sustained a verdict of first-degree murder, provided the jury in their verdict so determined. Gologonoff had nothing to do with the sufficiency of the information but dealt solely with the lack of specificity in the jury verdict. The trial court’s reliance on Gologonoff was totally misplaced.

The court’s statement that the defendants might have been misled by the information into believing that the prosecution only intended to ask for conviction of a charge of second-degree murder is not borne out, as the only statute cited in the information and the warrant is that of first-degree murder.

Furthermore, the propriety of the trial court’s requiring or allowing the people to amend an alleged murder charge from second-degree to first-degree murder is highly questionable. See People v. Gibbons (1932), 260 Mich 96, 99, where the court held:

“While the statute, being part of code of criminal procedure of 1927, was adopted to eliminate some of the technicalities which have surrounded the practice of criminal law, it does not permit the amendment of an information after trial has been begun so as to charge the accused with a different crime, punishable with a more severe penalty.” (Emphasis added.)

The information charged that the defendants

“* * * feloniously, wilfully and of their malice aforethought, did kill and murder one Shaker Aubrey contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace and dignity of the people of the State of Michigan.”

This is the language on which this defendant was hound over for trial on a first-degree murder charge.

An information need not specify the degree of murder charged; it is sufficient if it charges that the defendant did murder the deceased. Sneed v. People (1878), 38 Mich 248, 251, 252; People v. Page (1917), 198 Mich 524, 535, 536; CL 1948, § 767.71 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.1011).

The information is not defective: the trial court erred in so concluding. An information is to apprise the defendant of the charges against him; an information which fulfills such requirement is a good and proper information. People v. Kearns (1965), 2 Mich App 60; People v. Calvin (1886), 60 Mich 113. Defendant was bound over on a charge of first-degree murder and it is clear that defendant himself was aware of that charge.

We are also confronted with the issue of whether this defendant consented or acquiesced in the dismissal of the jury. The transcript shows that defendant Grrimmett’s counsel made the original motion to allow his client to plead guilty of second-degree murder. Defendant Johnson’s attorney is on record as agreeing with some points. At no point does the record show that counsel for this defendant said anything, either in agreement or dissent. Silence cannot operate against a defendant:

“In Allen v. State (1906), 52 Fla 1 (41 So 593), we held that the silence of the defendant on trial for a crime or Ms failure to object or protest against an illegal discharge of the jury before verdict does not constitute a consent to such discharge. Such conduct by the accused is not a waiver of the constitutional inhibition against a subsequent trial for the same offense after the improper discharge of the jury. See also, State, ex rel. Dato, v. Himes (1938), 134 Fla 675 (184 So 244); State, ex rel. Alcala, v. Grayson (1945), 156 Fla 435 (23 So 2d 484).” State v. Grayson (Fla, 1956), 90 So 2d 710 (63 ALR2d 777).

The prosecution contends that Grimmett’s counsel led the trial judge to believe that all the defendants were of the opinion that the jury should be discharged, giving the defendants an opportunity to meet the amended information at another trial. The following remarks of Grimmett’s counsel are important, including other excerpts of this involved action:

“Mr. Sherman (Sidney Sherman, appointed counsel for defendant George Grimmett): In the first place, if the Court please, it is the contention of the defendant, the various defendants, that the right to be informed of the charge and that the charge against them is a valid one.

* # #

“I am not arguing the constitutionality of the Michigan statutes. I call your attention to this. But, your Honor, as to whether or not they have a right to amend'—

“The Court (Interposing): You can argue the constitutionality of the Michigan statute. I think the Michigan statute is safe from constitutional defect by the requirement—

“Mr. Sherman (Interposing): Yes, that’s right, your Honor.

“The Court (Continuing): — that I discharge the jury and give you an opportunity to meet the amendment to the indictment and have another trial.

“Mr. Sherman: That’s right.

“Mr. Weiswasser (Assistant Prosecuting Attorney) : Or to proceed with the trial.

“Mr. Sherman: May I say one word?

“The Court: You can’t proceed with the trial.

“Mr. Sherman: You have taken innumerable pleas to lesser offenses where a count is added on the in formation. What is the first thing that is asked of the defendant? Won waive the previous proceedings, the right to an examination, the right to arraignment on a new — on an information charging this added count?’ So- that they cannot amend it. They are amending it as to substance. I agree with your Honor that the Michigan statutes — where we raise the question and they want to amend to substance, we have got to ha(v)e a new jury.” (Emphasis added.)

The trial judge apparently believed that the defendants were moving for a termination of the trial proceedings:

“The Court: Right, under the appropriate charge. But when the information is set forth as this one is, I am limited to the charge that I can give the jury, based on this information.

“Mr. Weiswasser: And we submit—

“The Court (Interposing): The information does not charge premeditation and therefore it is not first-degree murder in Michigan.

“I grant the defense motion.

“If you want to amend I will give you leave to amend.

“Mr. Weiswasser: We ask for leave to amend.

“The Court: In that case we will have to call the jury back and discharge the jury and refer it to the assignment clerk to set another date.”

Following the granting of the defense motion to discharge the jury, the court permitted the prosecutor to move that the information be amended.

The record shows that some of the counsel may have been confused as to exactly what motions were presented to the court for consideration. Defense counsel for defendant Johnson addressed the court:

“Mr. Hubbell (Stewart Hubbell, appointed counsel for defendant Harold Johnson): Your Honor, as I understand it, the new information will he filed and they will be arraigned again, is that right ?

“Mr. Weiswasser: There would have to he an arraignment on the new information.

“Mr. Sherman: What I — my motion would he an objection to the amendment of the information to charge murder in the first degree.

“Mr. Uubbell: May I join in that?

“The Court: That motion is overruled.

“I am ruling that the information—

“Mr. Sherman (Interposing): No, no.

“The Court: I am ruling that the information is defective insofar as it says the charge is murder in the first degree. It does charge murder in the second degree.

“People have requested leave to amend to charge murder in the first degree. I am granting that motion to amend.

“Under the law I am required under those circumstances to give you an opportunity to meet the new charge.

“Whether, or not that necessitates a new examination — I am inclined to think it does. The matter would have to be remanded for a new examination, and it is so ordered.

“Mr. Sherman: Thank you.

“Mr. Hubbell: Thank you.

“This is to all three defendants ?

“The Court: This is as to all three defendants. Bring in the jury.”

Prom these exchanges, coupled with the lack of any objections to the decisions of the court, the prosecution contends that it is permissible to infer that this defendant acquiesced in the rulings of the court.

The only motion presented by any of the defendants was the original motion to allow defendant Grimmett to plead guilty to a charge of second-degree murder. When the court granted the motion, it was obviously not the original guilty plea motion. The only logical interpretation is that the trial court thought it was granting a motion to dismiss the jury. This motion or idea was originated by the trial court, although Grimmett’s attorney apparently agreed. The trial court stated that his rulings applied to all three defendants.

“After a jury has been impaneled and sworn, any discharge thereof without sufficient cause operates as an acquittal, in that it effectually bars another trial for the same offense. But to have this operation and effect such discharge must have been made without the consent, express or implied, of the respondent: Joy v. State (1860), 14 Ind 139; Stewart v. State (1864) 15 Ohio St 155; State v. Garvey (1875), 42 Conn 232; Spencer v. State (1854), 15 Ga 562; Rex v. Stokes (1833), 6 Car & P 151; State v. M’Kee (1830), 1 Bailey 651; Commonwealth v. Sholes (1866), 13 Allen 554, 1 Bish Crim Law, § 998, and cases cited in notes 4 and 5, and note 1 p. 600.” People v. Gardner (1886), 62 Mich 307, 311.

A consent to the discharge of the jury by this defendant Brown in the instant case can, at best, only be implied. A strong presumption is raised against a waiver of fundamental rights by an accused. A waiver involves intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right or privilege.

In this case, an implication of waiver of such a right is impossible to justify. While the trial arguments are confusing, to say that silence on the part of this defendant waived his right not to be twice placed in jeopardy would deny him a fundamental right. This determination does not necessarily apply to the other defendants.

Double jeopardy is prohibited by the fifth amendment to the United States Constitution, and by Art I, § 15 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963. Jeop ardy is defined in Recorder’s Court Presiding Judge v. Third Judicial Circuit Judge (1954), 340 Mich 193, 201:

“In People v. Powers (1935), 272 Mich 303, 307, this Court recognized the general rule that one accused of violating the law is in jeopardy when placed on trial, on such charge, in a court of competent jurisdiction. Among other decisions of this Court involving a claim of double jeopardy are: Preston v. People (1881), 45 Mich 486; People v. Kuhn (1891), 67 Mich 463; People v. Townsend (1921), 214 Mich 267 (16 ALR 902).”

From the facts, we find that the attempt to try this defendant on another murder charge puts him in double jeopardy. This defendant’s motion to dismiss should have been granted.

Dismissed.

All Concurred.

* CL 1948, § 750.316 (Stat Ann 1954 Rev § 28.548).