People v. Lytal

326 N.W.2d 559, 119 Mich. App. 562

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: September 21, 1982
• Docket: Docket 55281
• Status: Published

Opinion

Cynar, J.

Defendant was orginally charged with open murder for the death of his girlfriend, Tori Lynn Scott. On July 18, 1978, defendant pled guilty to open murder. The trial court subsequently took testimony to determine the degree of murder. It found defendant guilty of second-degree murder and sentenced defendant to a life term with credit for 240 days. This Court vacated defendant’s guilty plea. The Supreme Court denied the prosecutor’s application for leave to appeal. People v Lytal #1, 409 Mich 884 (1980). Defendant was again charged with open murder. After a jury trial, defendant was found guilty of second-degree murder. MCL 750.317; MSA 28.549. Defendant was sentenced to a life term with credit for 2 years and 273 days. Defendant appeals as of right.

I

Defendant argues that the trial court abused its discretion by admitting evidence of defendant’s prior felony convictions. MRE 609(a). The decision to admit evidence of prior convictions rests in the sound discretion of the trial court. People v Jack son, 391 Mich 323, 336; 217 NW2d 22 (1974). The trial court must recognize its discretion on the record, People v Cherry, 393 Mich 261; 224 NW2d 286 (1974), and should exercise its discretion with reference to three specific criteria, People v Crawford, 83 Mich App 35, 39; 268 NW2d 275 (1978). 1 Although it has been stated that the record should affirmatively reflect the trial court’s awareness of the Crawford criteria, it has been held that this is unnecessary where there is no showing of an affirmative misapplication of the three criteria. See People v Roberson, 90 Mich App 196, 201-202; 282 NW2d 280 (1979), lv den 407 Mich 908 (1979), and People v Wakeford, 94 Mich App 249, 251; 288 NW2d 381 (1979).

We do not find any indication that the trial court affirmatively misapplied the factors delineated in Crawford. The trial judge’s comments indicate that he knew he had discretion to admit or exclude evidence of the prior convictions, although nowhere did he say the word "discretion”. It is clear that he considered the nature of the offenses because he concluded that they involved dishonesty and noted the recency of the convictions. The second Crawford factor clearly favors admission because the crime charged, i.e., murder, is not similar to the defendant’s prior drug convictions. The third Crawford factor, however, favors exclusion because the defense was accident and defendant was the only eyewitness to the incident. We note, however, that there was no evidence that drugs played a part in Ms. Scott’s death. Thus, the fact that the prior convictions were for drug offenses does not augment their prejudicial impact, contary to defense counsel’s argument at the hearing on the motion in limine.

II

Defendant contends that the trial court erred by excusing the production of a res gestae witness and allowing that witness’s prior recorded testimony to be read to the jury.

During the testimony of Diane St. Dennis, an occupant of the same apartment building as that occupied by the defendant, a special record was made regarding the physical condition of her father, Wilbur St. Dennis. Ms. St. Dennis testified that her father had recently been released from the hospital and had a bad leg, which was so swollen that he could not walk on it. She testified that he could not come to the courthouse and that he was under a doctor’s care. The prosecutor later moved for the admission of Mr. St. Dennis’s prior recorded testimony. Defense counsel objected on the ground that it was cumulative. Defense counsel renewed this objection before this testimony was read at trial. Defendant has not referred to, nor has this Court found, an objection to the failure to produce this witness. The failure to object will foreclose this issue on appeal unless, absent review, manifest injustice will result. See People v Jeffrey Johnson, 113 Mich App 650, 662; 318 NW2d 525 (1982).

We find no such manifest injustice here. Mr. St. Dennis was not a key witness. His testimony was similar to that of the other occupants of the apartment building. Indeed, while arguing that the prior recorded testimony of Mr. St. Dennis should be excluded, defense counsel argued that it was cumulative and repetitious. Further, we note MRE 804(b)(1) allows the admission of hearsay evidence where the declarant is unavailable as a witness and the testimony was given as a witness at another hearing of the same proceeding and the defendant had an opportunity and similar motive to develop the testimony by examination. "Unavailability” includes a situation where the witness is unable to testify at the hearing because of a then-existing physical infirmity. MRE 804(a)(4). See, also, People v Murry, 106 Mich App 257; 307 NW2d 464 (1981), and People v Doverspike, 5 Mich App 181; 146 NW2d 85 (1966).

We also reject defendant’s argument that he was prejudiced by portions of Mr. St. Dennis’s prior testimony which implied that the defendant was involved in criminal activity. Specifically, Mr. St. Dennis testified that he often overhead fights and conversations in the defendant’s apartment. One conversation involved a discussion about an apparent larceny. There was no objection to this testimony at the earlier hearing. At trial, defense counsel objected to all of the testimony on the ground that it was prejudicial, but there was no specific reference to the evidence of other criminal activity in the objection. On appeal, defendant argues that he was denied effective assistance of counsel by the failure to object to this testimony at the earlier hearing. The standard for review of a serious mistake of counsel was set out in People v Garcia, 398 Mich 250, 266; 247 NW2d 547 (1976). We cannot conclude that defendant would have had a reasonably likely chance of acquittal had the disputed evidence not been admitted. Defendant was impeached by evidence of his prior convictions. Many of the prosecution witnesses, friends of defendant, were impeached by evidence of their prior convictions. Evidence of other possible criminal activity did not prejudice defendant.

Ill

On appeal, defendant argues that it was reversible error to mention first-degree murder during the jury instructions because the highest offense charged was second-degree murder. Defendant argues that the instructions encouraged a "compromise verdict”, i.e., encouraged the jury to convict defendant of the highest charge because they could not convict him of first-degree murder. It is important to note that there is no objection on record to this jury instruction. Reversal, therefore, is not required unless manifest injustice would result. We find no such manifest injustice. See People v King, 361 Mich 140; 104 NW2d 922 (1960), and People v Alexander, 33 Mich App 704; 190 NW2d 319 (1971).

In People v Palmer, 105 Mich 568; 63 NW 656 (1895), the trial judge defined the different degrees of murder and also manslaughter. Later, the trial judge withdrew first-degree murder from the jury’s deliberation because the defendant had been acquitted of that charge in a former trial. On appeal, the defendant argued that the charge was misleading and prejudicial because the judge first defined murder in the first degree and instructed the jury that they should commence with the higher crime. The Supreme Court rejected this argument: "A juror who could be thus misled or prejudiced would not possess intelligence sufficient to justify his sitting as a juror in any case.” Id., 573.

Defendant attempts to bolster his argument by suggesting that the instruction, when coupled with the evidence of sexual conduct and the prosecutor’s rebuttal argument, improperly suggested a first-degree felony-murder (rape) theory to the jury. Scientific evidence presented at trial indicated that the victim had sexual intercourse within 8 to 12 hours before the autopsy. Defendant testified that he had sexual intercourse with Ms. Scott during a period when they were not fighting.

In closing argument, defense counsel mentioned several times that defendant and Ms. Scott had consensual intercourse during the several hours they were fighting. During rebuttal, the prosecutor suggested that sexual relations between defendant and Ms. Scott were certainly not voluntary. Defense counsel did not object to this argument. Appellate review is precluded unless the failure to review would cause a miscarriage of justice. People v Duncan, 402 Mich 1, 15-16; 260 NW2d 58 (1977); People v Hogan, 105 Mich App 473, 485-486; 307 NW2d 72 (1981). Argument which may be improper if standing alone may not constitute reversible error because of its responsive nature to matters raised by the defendant and where any unduly prejudicial effect could have been eliminated by a curative instruction if one had been requested upon a timely objection. Duncan, supra, 16-17. We believe the prosecutor’s remarks were in response to the defense argument that the sexual intercourse was consensual, an argument possibly made to suggest that defendant did not want to kill his girlfriend. Even if the prosecutor’s argument was improper, it could have been remedied by a curative instruction had one been requested.

IV

We have not found a defense counsel objection to the testimony concerning evidence of possible sexual relations between defendant and the victim, and defendant has not referred to such an objection on appeal. Defense counsel did object to the admission of certain exhibits at the close of the prosecution’s case. Specifically, defense counsel objected to all autopsy swabbings and said: "And I believe all sex and rape evidence should be kept out.” Defense counsel argued that the rectal swabbings were used to suggest unusual sex acts and would prejudice defendant. Defense counsel’s objection was overruled. Defense counsel also objected to the admission of glass found in the victim’s vagina, and this objection was also overruled.

Relevant evidence is evidence having any tendency to make the existence of any fact that is of consequence to the determination of the action more or less probable than it would be without the evidence. MRE 401. In this case, the evidence was admitted as part of the res gestae of the crime.

" jRes gestae are the circumstances, facts and declarations which grow out of the main fact, are contemporaneous with it, and serve to illustrate its character.

" 'No inflexible rule has ever been and probably never can be adopted as to what is a part of the res gestae. It must be determined largely in each case by the peculiar facts and circumstances incident thereto; but it may be stated as a fixed rule that, included in the res gestae are the facts which so illustrate and characterize the principal fact as to constitute the whole one transaction, and render the latter necessary to exhibit the former in its proper effect.”’ (Emphasis in Castillo.) People v Castillo, 82 Mich App 476, 479-480; 266 NW2d 460 (1978), quoting People v Kayne, 268 Mich 186, 191-192; 255 NW 758 (1934).

We conclude that the evidence of sexual relations was part of the res gestae. It sheds light on what transpired between defendant and the victim on the night of the homicide. This evidence would be helpful to the jury in assessing the defense of accident. In People v Stewart, 107 Mich App 458; 309 NW2d 564 (1981), an appeal from a second-degree murder conviction, this Court found no error in the admission of that defendant’s semen-stained undershorts because the sexual aspect of the crime was part of its res gestae.

Relevant evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice. MRE 403. Defendant argues that the evidence suggested unusual sex acts and was unduly prejudicial. If any prejudice was created by this evidence, it arose at the time of the testimony relevant to the evidence of sexual relations. There was no objection to this testimony. The admission of the exhibits did not further prejudice the defendant because they were cumulative to the unobjected-to testimony. The admission of this evidence does not require reversal.

V

During the testimony of Theodore Vlassis, a friend of defendant, a letter allegedly written by defendant and sent to Vlassis a few days before trial while they were both in jail was admitted into evidence. 2 Before the admission of this letter, defense counsel argued out of the presence of the jury that the prosecutor violated the discovery order by not giving defense counsel a copy of the letter and that the letter was irrelevant. The trial court permitted Vlassis to read the letter at trial. Vlassis testified that four days before receiving the letter a pack of cigarettes was passed to him in jail.

We reject defendant’s argument that the prosecutor violated the discovery order. In relevant part defendant’s motion for discovery sought: "A copy of any and all exculpatory and/or inculpatory written or recorded or taped statements and summaries of any oral statements made by the defen dant to a Prosecuting Attorney, his assistants or any law enforcement officer.”

Under a literal reading of the discovery petition, there was no duty to disclose statements made by defendant to persons other than the prosecuting attorney, his assistants, or a law enforcement officer. In People v Browning (On Rehearing), 108 Mich App 281; 310 NW2d 365 (1981), the trial court granted the defense discovery motion requesting discovery of "’all written statements made by or taken from witnesses or other persons having knowledge of the matters alleged in the information.’ ” Id., 305. On appeal, defendant argued that the prosecutor violated the discovery order by failing to turn over a taped interview with a key prosecution witness (Champion). This Court found no error, accepting the prosecution’s argument that defense counsel never requested oral or video recordings of any witness.

"We do not want to encourage the police and prosecutors to look for loopholes in discovery orders. But by the same token, it does not ask too much to require defense counsel to state with some clarity just what is being sought. Defense counsel was in the driver’s seat here — the trial court granted his motion in toto. Under these facts, where the defendant, in effect, wrote the discovery order, the prosecutor was not required to furnish the Champion tape to defense counsel.” Id., 307.

The nature of defendant’s letter to Vlassis is much different than the type of statements requested. There are no questions of right to counsel or voluntariness of the statement. There was no error in admitting the letter over the objection that the prosecutor failed to comply with the discovery order.

Defense counsel also objected that the letter was irrelevant and prejudicial. Actions by a defendant such as flight to avoid arrest, procuring perjured testimony and attempts to destroy evidence may be considered by the jury as evidence of guilt. People v Casper, 25 Mich App 1, 7; 180 NW2d 906 (1970). The rationale for this rule was set out in People v Hooper, 50 Mich App 186, 199; 212 NW2d 786 (1973), lv den 391 Mich 808 (1974):

"The grounds on which this evidence is admissible has been commonly termed as being 'consciousness of a weak case’. In 2 Wigmore, Evidence (3d ed), § 278, p 120, the rule is stated as follows:

" 'It has always been understood — the inference, indeed, is one of the simplest in human experience — that a party’s falsehood or other fraud in the preparation and presentation of his cause,- his fabrication or suppression of evidence by bribery or spoliation, and all similar conduct, is receivable against him as an indication of his consciousness that his case is a weak or unfounded one; and from that consciousness may be inferred the fact itself of the cause’s lack of truth and merit.’

"Michigan has long followed this rule and held that evidence that a defendant has attempted to suppress testimony or induce perjury is admissible.” (Emphasis in original.)

In Hooper, there was no error in permitting testimony that that defendant asked the complaining witness to drop the charges. See, also, People v Mock, 108 Mich App 384, 389; 310 NW2d 390 (1981).

People v Moore, 51 Mich App 48; 214 NW2d 548 (1974), presents a factual situation similar to this case. During trial, a letter sent by the defendant therein to another prison inmate proposing shady trial assistance and reciprocation was intercepted by the prosecution and offered into evidence. On appeal, that defendant questioned its relevance and contended its potential prejudicial effect outweighed its probative value. There was no error in the admission of this evidence. This Court found that the letter and its contents were material to the defendant’s credibility. Id., 52. See, also, People v Ranes, 58 Mich App 268; 227 NW2d 312 (1975), and People v Ranes, 63 Mich App 498; 234 NW2d 673 (1975).

We conclude that there was no error in admitting the letter written by the defendant to Vlassis because it could be read as an attempt to influence his testimony. Defense counsel argued that the letter was ambiguous. We agree that it is not obvious that the letter was meant to threaten Vlassis. Nevertheless, this was a matter for the jury to decide by applying their common sense and experience.

Defendant also claims error in the admission of Vlassis’s testimony on redirect examination that he was threatened in jail by other people. Vlassis testified that he was approached by a few people who threatened him and told him that Dave, the defendant, wanted to see him. On Appeal, defendant argues that this redirect testimony was beyond the scope of cross-examination; however, no objection on this basis was made at trial. There is also a question of the relevancy of this testimony. In People v Long, 144 Mich 585; 108 NW 91 (1906), the prosecutor asked a witness: "Since this case has been commenced, has any person come to you for the purpose of trying to get you to stop the case by the offer of a reward to you?” Id., 585. The witness answered affirmatively. The Supreme Court found error, holding that the prosecution should not have made this proof unless able to offer some testimony tending to show that the defendant procured the offer to be made or that it was made with his approval or acquiescence. Id., 585-586. In this case, however, Vlassis testified that the people who approached him told him that Dave, the defendant, wanted to see him. This was sufficient to establish the connection between defendant and the threats.

Affirmed.

1 The Crawford Court set forth the following criteria:

"The factors which the judge must weigh in making his determination include: (1) the nature of the prior offense (did it involve an offense which directly bears on credibility, such as perjury?), (2) whether it is for substantially the same conduct for which the defendant is on trial (are the offenses so closely related that the danger that the jury will consider the defendant a 'bad man’ or infer that because he was previously convicted he likely committed this crime, and therefore create prejudice which outweighs the probative value on the issue of credibility?), and (3) the effect on the decisional process if the accused does not testify out of fear of impeachment by prior convictions (are there alternative means of presenting a defense which would not require the defendant’s testimony, i.e., can his side of the story be presented, or are there alternative, less prejudicial means of impeaching the defendant?).”

2 The letter read:

"P.S. I won’t have any candy until tomorrow. Ted, I’m about different as you, as you’ll find out. Hey, Bro, if you need any smokes, candy, just ask.

"I’m not mad at you. I have never been mad at you. You are the one that is mad at me. We were good friends at once, Ted. Hey, it’s in the past. Can’t you let things lay?

"Hey, Bro, you don’t have anything to worry about, I won’t do anything to you. All I would like is for you and me to be friends again.

"You know my word is my bond. What I say, I do. I’m going back to Court and I don’t care what you tell them, because it won’t hurt me anyways. Later.

"P.S. Write back and let me know.”