People v. Dupie

236 N.W.2d 494, 395 Mich. 483, 1975 Mich. LEXIS 179

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: December 18, 1975
• Docket: 56009, (Calendar No. 17)
• Status: Published

Opinions

J. W. Fitzgerald, J.

Defendant was jury-tried and convicted of unarmed robbery.¹ Evidence introduced by the people at trial indicated that defendant, at the time 17 years of age, spent the late evening hours of August 25-26, 1971, in the company of complainant John Gregorich and others eating and drinking. In the morning defendant and complainant visited downtown Ontonagon where complainant, planning to go to Detroit to get on a freighter as a sailor, withdrew $215 from the bank. Defendant and complainant continued drinking at the home of defendant’s mother, where they were visited by two girls. After the girls departed from the home, defendant demanded complainant’s money. Complainant balked and defendant beat and kicked him. Defendant obtained complainant’s wallet but did not discover $184 which was hidden in a secret compartment in the wallet. He did, however, take from $14 to $18 which complainant had not placed in the secret compartment.

Defendant denied that he had beaten and robbed the complainant, testifying that complainant fell on several occasions, injuring himself.

Defendant’s conviction was affirmed by the Court of Appeals in a short memorandum opinion.² We granted leave to appeal. 392 Mich 785 (1974).

Before this Court, defendant raises eight allegations of error, the most significant of which allege trial court error in rendering supplemental instructions to a divided jury and ineffective assistance of counsel. We find no instance of reversible error and affirm, remanding to the trial court for an evidentiary hearing respecting defendant’s allegation that Ifis conviction resulted from serious error of trial counsel.

I

Defendant assigns error in three respects concerning the trial court’s instructions to the jury.

It is first alleged that the court did not adequately instruct on the specific intent required to be guilty of unarmed robbery. Second, it is argued that the instructions on the other elements of the offense were confusing. Defense counsel made no objection to these instructions at trial. Third, it is contended that the trial court "affirmatively excluded” lesser included offenses from the jury’s consideration.

Unarmed robbery is a specific intent crime. People v McKeighan, 205 Mich 367; 171 NW 500 (1919). The instruction objected to as failing to adequately instruct on the specific intent element reads as follows:

"You are, therefore, advised that the essential elements of robbery unarmed are: One, that the defendant by force and violence, assault, or putting in fear — two, feloniously took any property from the person of the complainant or in his presence — and three, that the defendant was not armed with a dangerous weapon.”

Also, during the charge to the jury, the court instructed:

"In order to warrant a conviction under this statute, it must appear first that the defendant feloniously— without any claim or color of right — stole or took money or property, which may be the subject of larceny, from the person of the complaining witness or in his presence.”

The prosecution contends that the charge adequately instructed the jury on specific intent due to the use of the term "feloniously”, citing People v Gregg, 170 Mich 168; 135 NW 970 (1912), and 4 Gillespie, Michigan Criminal Law and Procedure (2d ed), §§ 2219, 2231. The instruction given is an almost verbatim reading of the suggested Gillespie instruction of "Form No. 968. Instruction On Robbery Armed”. We again must caution members of the bench and bar against using the "form instructions” of Gillespie (and indeed, any other treatise) without an independent determination of the accuracy of these suggested instructions. We do not wish to be seen as stamping our imprimatur on the instruction given. Nevertheless, our responsibility as a reviewing court is limited to determining whether a defendant received a fair trial.

The charge to the jury must be considered in its entirety, and

"[w]here the charge of the judge to which exception is taken is not strictly correct, but the court can clearly see that the jury could not have been misled by it, to the injury of the party excepting a new trial will not be granted for that error.” People v Scott (syllabus), 6 Mich 287 (1859).

We are not persuaded that the instruction given was so deficient as to mislead the jury or to leave them in doubt about their responsibility. People v Schwitzke, 316 Mich 182; 25 NW2d 160 (1946).

The allegation regarding the "confusing and conflicting” instruction on the elements of the offense is also without merit.

Defendant also alleges error in the failure of the court to instruct on lesser included offenses. Defendant did not request instructions on lesser included offenses. There was no reversible error. People v Henry, 395 Mich 367; 236 NW2d 489 (1975).

II

Defendant contends jurisdiction to try him was not properly in the circuit court in light of the decision of this Court in People v Fields, 388 Mich 66; 199 NW2d 217 (1972), aiFd on rehearing 391 Mich 206; 216 NW2d 51 (1974). Defendant’s argument is intricate and its suggested resolution— that jurisdiction in this case should of necessity have resided in the probate court — untenable. The facts of this case and those of Fields are distinguishable. Here defendant, a 17-year-old, was originally charged in the circuit court. In Fields defendant was under 17 years of age and the question of waiver from probate court was involved. The precise question in Fields was "whether the lack of standards in the [waiver] statute preclude a waiver proceeding”. 388 Mich 66, 75; 199 NW2d 217, 221 (1972). No such question of waiver is here involved. Jurisdiction legally resided in the circuit court. Const 1963, art 6, § 13; and MCLA 712A.2; MSA 27.3178(598.2). See, also, Downs, Michigan Juvenile Court; Law and Practice § 4.12.

III

Defendant complains that his counsel was not permitted to inspect the presentence report prior to sentencing as provided in GCR 1963, 785.12 (effective Sept 1, 1973).³ He asks that we remand for resentencing.

In People v Martin, 393 Mich 145; 224 NW2d 36 (1974), this Court ruled that defendants were not entitled as a matter of right to inspect the presentence report prior to the effective date of the new court rule. Defendant’s sentencing occurred prior to this date.

Reviewing this record we further note that defendant’s appellate counsel was afforded opportunity to review the presentence report at the hearing held on defendant’s motion for new trial in the court below. The record indicates that counsel reviewed the presentence report and offered no objection to the contents thereof. Remand for re-sentencing is not warranted.

IV

Defendant contends the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to permit jury determination of his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. It has been said that the question defendant raises, properly stated, "is whether the evidence was ample to warrant a finding of guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the crime charged”. People v Williams, 368 Mich 494, 501; 118 NW2d 391 (1962), emphasis supplied. For explication see People v Palmer, 392 Mich 370; 220 NW2d 393 (1974), and People v Howard, 50 Mich 239; 15 NW 101 (1883), quoted therein. The testimony of complainant John Gregorich supplies ample evidence upon each element of the crime of unarmed robbery, thereby indicating the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the verdict of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

V

Defendant argues that the following supplemental charge, given the jury after the trial court had learned that the jury was deadlocked, was coercive:

"The Court: All right. And it’s my understanding that there are some of you who are in favor of a not guilty verdict, and some of you who are in favor of a guilty verdict.

"I simply want you to understand this — that each of you, as jurors, are charged with the responsibility of attempting to arrive at a verdict. There’s nothing compulsive about your arriving at a verdict, but you should understand that, if there’s a hung jury, this case will, in all likelihood, be retried and there will be twelve citizens of Ontonagon County who will be called to sit as jurors, to hear the evidence and have this matter submitted to them. And, while I am not directing you that any of you need to change your minds from any position that you presently have, because that’s not my function — and it is your function to render a verdict which you honestly believe in. The fact is that, if we bring twelve more people in here, they’re not going to be any more intelligent or any more capable jurors than you people are, and if there is any way of resolving this matter — one way or the other — it ought to be done.

"Now, I want it understood that I am not compelling you to arrive at a verdict, but I am suggesting to you that — as reasonable people, you’ve heard the evidence, and you’ve heard the law as it applies to this case — if it can be resolved, it should be resolved. The inconvenience and so forth to all the parties involved in trying this case once, and retrying it a second time — If there’s no way that you can arrive at a verdict, then that’s what you should report — that you’ve got a hung verdict —a hung jury, but I would simply suggest to you that the twelve of you aren’t any different than the next twelve people that we may bring in for a jury, so that if there is any way of your resolving this, the Court is desirous of having you do so, and I would simply like to suggest that you retire to your jury deliberation room, discuss this matter, and if it’s possible for you to arrive at a verdict, fine; if it isn’t, then let us know that it’s a hung jury and we’ll call you back in here, and make the necessary disposition. But I would like you to simply understand that each of you are just as capable as the next twelve citizens of determining this issue, and I would like to have you simply consider the matter, and there is nothing compulsive about any member of the jury changing their verdict, but I do want you to do as much as you can to arrive at what you consider to be an honest verdict. If you can’t do that, why, then there will be some other disposition made. But I would like to have you go back in, and attempt to arrive at some decision. If you can’t arrive at it within a reasonable time, why, advise the Court that you can’t and we’ll have you back out here, and dispose of the matter.”

Subsequent to the rendering of the instruction the jury returned a verdict of guilty. Defendant contends that the rendering of the instruction constitutes reversible error.

This issue requires our revisitation of People v Sullivan, 392 Mich 324; 220 NW2d 441 (1974). In Sullivan, this Court thoroughly discussed the subject of supplemental Allen4 charges of the nature present in this case and prospectively adopted ABA jury standard 5.4 to cover the circumstance of supplemental Allen charging arising after decision in Sullivan. With respect to cases such as the present, involving the propriety of pre-Sullivan supplemental instruction, the Court by its analysis indicated that the presence or absence of coercion would be determined on a case-by-case basis. In Sullivan, the Court did not find the supplemental charge given coercive, commenting:

"Concluding from the standards generally approved by both Federal and state courts and by Michigan precedent, we cannot find the supplemental charge given herein coercive per se. Nor can we objectively say that it was applied coercively in this case or resulted in a coerced verdict. In fact, the great care insured by the trial judge and the extensive thought evidenced by the jury in asking for re-instructions as to particular verdicts produced a verdict quite appropriate to the admitted facts. The totality of this long trial based upon the state of the law at that time precludes any finding of error by the judge or deprivation of constitutional rights of the defendant.” supra, 341-342.

Reviewing the instruction rendered in this case we note that the trial court expressed concern that the individual jurors not "compulsively” abdicate individual judgment in favor of unanimity but rather bring in a verdict based upon "honest belief’ cognizant of the need for dispositional unanimity. We are convinced that, given the background of pre-Sullivan Michigan law, the instruction in this case was not so inherently coercive as to mandate reversal. Sullivan, supra. See, also, MCLA 769.26; MSA 28.1096.

VI

Defendant alleges that he was denied effective assistance of trial counsel. His contention is principally⁵ based upon the assertion that court-appointed counsel did not produce at trial a witness, Harry Thompson, whose testimony, it is argued, might have indicated that the money which defendant is charged with taking from complainant was in fact given by complainant to Thompson for the purpose of purchasing liquor. Defendant argues that Thompson’s testimony "could have corroborated the defendant’s story” — presumably supporting his denial of robbery. In other words, ineffective assistance of trial counsel may have resulted in defendant’s conviction.

As part of the record before us there is the transcript of a post-trial hearing on defendant’s motion for a new trial at which defendant’s court-appointed counsel, under questioning by defendant’s present appellate counsel, recites the facts regarding his failure to contact Harry Thompson and utilize him as a witness. The testimony of trial counsel on this record indicates that the failure to call Thompson was accomplished with defendant’s knowledgeable concurrence. Moreover, the record, while exploring the knowledge of defendant’s trial counsel respecting witness Harry Thompson, does not indicate the significance of Harry Thompson’s testimony to defendant’s cause.* ****⁶ In short, given the present record, we have no commodity to weigh upon the scales of justice — no capability of assessing the gravity of the asserted error of counsel.

The present record does not permit determination of whether trial counsel’s failure to call Harry Thompson as a defense witness is sufficient to warrant a new trial. The people point out, and we agree, that defendant must demonstrate the gravity of alleged error before appellate or other relief may be granted. Cognizant that ineffective assistance of trial counsel conceivably could have resulted in defendant’s conviction, we hesitate to lightly dismiss defendant’s contention. In our view the appropriate remedy in this instance is remand for. an evidentiary hearing in the trial court for presentation of defendant’s proofs⁷ and decision on whether or not there was such ineffective assistance of trial counsel as to entitle defendant to a new trial. People v Ginther, 390 Mich 436, 443-445; 212 NW2d 922 (1973); and People v Dallas Craig Brown, 393 Mich 756; 223 NW2d 293 (1974).

Affirmed and remanded to the trial court for proceedings in accordance with VI hereof. This Court does not retain jurisdiction.

T. G. Kavanagh, C. J., and Williams and Levin, JJ., concurred with Fitzgerald, J. Lindemer and Ryan, JJ., took no part in the decision of this case.

1 MCLA 750.530; MSA 28.798.

2 The Court of Appeals dismissed all but one of defendant’s contentions upon appeal with the dispositive comment that the contentions were "without merit”. While time limitation does not permit the Court of Appeals the extensive elucidation generally obtainable in this Court, descriptive construction of decisional reasoning would not only better serve the interests of justice but would also aid this Court in its supervisory capacity. See People v Auer, 393 Mich 667, 671; 227 NW2d 528, 530 (1975).

3 The passage of this court rule was anticipated by People v McFarlin, 389 Mich 557; 208 NW2d 504 (1973).

4 The popular denomination "Allen charge” is derived from the approval of a charge of the substantive nature here treated by the United States Supreme Court in Allen v United States, 164 US 492; 17 S Ct 154; 41 L Ed 528 (1896). See Sullivan, supra, 330.

5 Defendant asserts that his trial counsel made other errors — failure to object to instructions, to request instruction on lesser included offenses, and to request transfer of the case to probate court — which buttress his claim that his representation by trial counsel was constitutionally defective. We do not, however, regard these asserted errors as compelling indicia of representation violative of due process, given the record before us.

6 Would Harry Thompson’s testimony have assisted defendant’s cause? We are unable to premise disposition upon an unsupported assumption of prejudice made by defendant after the fact of conviction.

7 These proofs should address the prejudice to the defense resulting from failure to present Harry Thompson as a witness and in this respect will likely require examination of witness Harry Thompson to establish the nature of his testimony. The proofs should also address the question of whether non-production of witness Thompson was reasonably attributable to defendant’s informed exercise of a client’s prerogative or to a lack of diligence and competence on the part of trial counsel.