People v. Bryan

284 N.W.2d 765, 92 Mich. App. 208, 1979 Mich. App. LEXIS 2334
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedSeptember 5, 1979
DocketDocket 77-3006
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 284 N.W.2d 765 (People v. Bryan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Bryan, 284 N.W.2d 765, 92 Mich. App. 208, 1979 Mich. App. LEXIS 2334 (Mich. Ct. App. 1979).

Opinion

Cynar, J.

Following a jury trial in early May of 1977, defendant was convicted of assault with intent to commit murder, MCL 750.83; MSA 28.278, and assault with intent to rob while armed, MCL 750.89; MSA 28.284. On June 13, 1977, he was sentenced to concurrent terms of 25 to 40 years imprisonment on each count. Defendant now appeals as of right.

The charges against defendant arose out of an incident in Bay City on the evening of April 7, 1976, in which the complainant, Albin Trojanowicz, was struck on the head with a hammer and stabbed with a knife. Defendant and two others, Brian Miller and Rick Miller, were arrested and bound over on assault charges as a result of this incident. Defendant was tried separately from the other defendants.

At the trial Donald Elder testified that he was drinking with defendant and the Millers on the afternoon of the offense. At one point defendant suggested that he and Elder "go and raise some hell and get in trouble”, but Elder declined this offer.

*213 Diane Blair testified that she was riding in a car with defendant and the Millers on the evening of the offense. Defendant was in possession of a knife at that time. When the occupants of the car noticed a man who appeared drunk walking down the street, either defendant or Brian Miller suggested that they "roll” him. Defendant and Brian Miller left the car, the latter carrying a hammer, and Rick Miller drove to his mother’s house. The witness further testified that shortly thereafter defendant and Brian Miller appeared, both with bloody hands. At that time defendant said that they had killed a man and Brian Miller admitted striking someone with a hammer. Defendant and Brian Miller then washed and concealed the hammer. llene Miller, the mother of the two codefendants Miller, testified that she noted blood on defendant’s hand and that she helped defendant dispose of a knife and a hat he had been wearing.

The complainant, Albin Trojanowicz, died prior to trial from causes not related to the assault and his preliminary examination testimony was read into the record at trial. He testified that he was walking home that evening when he was attacked by what he thought were two men. He stated that he was hit on the head and struck in the stomach. He testified that he remembered blood splashing and then recalled nothing until he awoke in the hospital. Medical testimony established that the complainant had been struck on the head and stabbed on the side. He had bled profusely and would have died had he not been treated.

Unknown to the occupants of the car that evening, an undercover operation in an unrelated matter, consisting of several officers, had spotted the vehicle. They saw two men leave the vehicle but did not witness the assault. When a passerby *214 discovered the complainant and contacted the police, a bulletin was put out on the car. Twenty-five minutes later the vehicle was stopped. At the time defendant was its only occupant. The arresting officers noticed blood near the driver’s side of the car and on defendant’s shoes. Evidence at trial showed that this blood type matched the blood type of the victim. Both the knife and the hammer were retrieved and admitted as exhibits at trial.

Defendant’s defense was that of intoxication. He claimed he had consumed 25 to 30 beers and a pint of schnapps on the day in question and that he did not intend to commit the crimes. He did admit striking the victim in the chest, allegedly in response to something he had said, but denied possessing a knife at that time. The arresting officers testified that defendant did not appear intoxicated to them.

Defendant also introduced evidence to explain the blood found in the car and on his shoes. Defendant’s brother, Mark Bryan, testified that on April 4, 1976, he had been in a fight and knocked unconscious. When he awoke defendant was holding his head. Medical records indicated that the blood found on the tennis shoes, Levi’s, and on the automobile at the time of defendant’s arrest matched the blood type of defendant’s brother.

I. Use of defendant’s statements.

Defendant initially alleges that the prosecution denied defendant a fair trial by its use of statements made by defendant shortly after arrest.

At trial Sergeant Edward LaPlant, one of the arresting officers, testified that he asked defendant what had happened shortly after his arrest. Defense counsel objected before the officer could state defendant’s response to the question. He requested a mistrial, claiming that the prosecutor had told *215 him that defendant had made no statements. In response the prosecutor agreed that he had said there were no statements by defendant. However, he added that he had never said there were no "remarks” made by defendant at the time of his arrest.

After considerable argument by counsel, defendant’s motion for a mistrial was denied. The trial judge did order a Walker 1 hearing to determine the voluntariness of the alleged statements. In the course of this hearing Sergeant LaPlant testified that defendant was advised of his Miranda 2 rights at the time of his arrest. He testified that immediately thereafter defendant denied having done anything wrong. He further stated that later on he talked to defendant at the police station. However, at that point the witness was cut off by the prosecutor who stated:

"I have to hold it here for a second. All I asked him was what did he say at the scene when he was arrested, and so that’s where we are at this point. Anyhow, there was subsequent questioning at the station, but we hadn’t gotten to that bridge yet.”

Subsequently, defense counsel waived the production of another officer who was present at the scene of the arrest. The trial judge ruled that the statements made by defendant were voluntary. The prosecutor then indicated that he intended to present additional evidence of statements made to another officer, Sergeant Lochinski. This led to an exchange between counsel and the trial judge as to the need for an additional Walker hearing. At one *216 point defense counsel accused the prosecution of trickery and asserted that all statements should be disclosed at one time. In response the following exchange occurred:

"Prosecutor: In fact, your Honor, I think that Mr. Caprathe is making a mountain out of a mole hill, I’m sufficiently satisfied with the evidence at this time. At this time, I’ll abjure the use of any statements. I believe they’re admissible. It’s not worth the hassle.
"The Court: I’m concerned with the statement you made prior to this. You said in view of the fact they do not want them presented you will not present the exculpatory statements.
"Prosecutor: Yes, I’ll leave the whole area alone. No statements from the defendant.
"The Court: All right. That eliminates all problems, doesn’t it?”

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Bluebook (online)
284 N.W.2d 765, 92 Mich. App. 208, 1979 Mich. App. LEXIS 2334, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-bryan-michctapp-1979.