People v. Olsson

224 N.W.2d 691, 56 Mich. App. 500, 1974 Mich. App. LEXIS 751
CourtMichigan Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 25, 1974
DocketDocket 13903
StatusPublished
Cited by31 cases

This text of 224 N.W.2d 691 (People v. Olsson) 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. Olsson, 224 N.W.2d 691, 56 Mich. App. 500, 1974 Mich. App. LEXIS 751 (Mich. Ct. App. 1974).

Opinions

T. M. Burns, P. J.

Defendant Ralf Berne Roland Olsson was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder pursuant to MCLA 750.316; MSA 28.548. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and now appeals as of right.

On June 14, 1971, an information was filed alleging that the defendant "did wilfully, deliberately and premeditatedly and of his malice aforethought and during the perpetration of a larceny or robbery murder Per Torolf Baevre * * * ”. Mr. Baevre was fatally stabbed in his cabin aboard the Norwegian merchant ship "Bolinas” while the vessel was docked in the Saginaw River at Bay City, Michigan, on May 16, 1971.

Defendant was a second cook on the "Bolinas”. Evidence presented at trial showed that defendant was angry with the victim due to the fact that the crew had complained to defendant about meals, rather than complaining to the victim, who was the steward under whom defendant worked. Defendant had told the crew that there was no variation in the meals because the victim would not give the defendant the proper materials to work with.

[503]*503The record also reveals that after the victim’s body was discovered and the police were notified, the police searched the cabin for the victim’s wallet, money, and identification papers, but all of these personal effects were missing. The police also attempted to locate the defendant, but he did not report for work that morning, and his whereabouts were unknown.

Defendant testified that he never had any personal trouble with the victim. Defendant further testified that during the period in question he suffered an "alcoholic blackout” due to excessive drinking and stated that he did not know if he killed the victim because he could not remember what he did on the night in question.

Although defendant has raised numerous issues in this Court, we think it necessary to deal with four which will be treated in the manner presented below.

Defendant first asserts that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to prove murder in the first degree.

The information in this case charged defendant with both statutory first-degree murder and with felony-murder, all in one count. Defendant’s argument that the prosecution failed to prove premeditation and deliberation beyond a reasonable doubt in relation to the charge of statutory first-degree murder is not well taken.

The elements of premeditation and deliberation may be reasonably inferred from all the facts and circumstances surrounding a homicide. People v Vail, 49 Mich App 578; 212 NW2d 268 (1973); People v Morrin, 31 Mich App 301; 187 NW2d 434 (1971). It is only where there is no evidence presented from which the jury could properly infer the presence of premeditation and deliberation [504]*504that it is error for the trial court to submit a charge of first-degree murder to the jury. People v Meier, 47 Mich App 179; 209 NW2d 311 (1973). After carefully reviewing the records in the present case, we conclude that there was sufficient evidence presented by the prosecution from which the jury could have properly inferred the existence of premeditation and deliberation. Consequently, the trial court did not err by submitting the first-degree murder charge to the jury on the question of premeditation and deliberation.

However, defendant is correct in his contention that the evidence at trial was insufficient to support a guilty verdict of first-degree murder during the perpetration of a robbery or larceny. An essential requirement in a first-degree murder prosecution under the felony-murder theory is proof of one of the independent felonies listed in the statute. The two felonies listed in the information in the case at bar were larceny and robbery. However, the prosecution presented no evidence to show, even by inference, that the defendant was guilty of a felony other than the killing. The evidence presented at the trial only showed that the victim’s money, wallet, identification and personal effects were missing from his cabin. None of these items were found in defendant’s possession when he was arrested, nor were they discovered in his room aboard the ship. Nor did the prosecution introduce any other evidence to prove that the defendant had committed either a robbery or a larceny. We conclude that there was not sufficient evidence presented by the prosecution from which the jury could properly have inferred that the homicide was committed in the perpetration of a robbery or larceny. Therefore, the trial court erred by submitting the felony-murder charge to the jury.

[505]*505Defendant’s second claim of error is directly related to the issue already discussed. Defendant contends that the jury’s verdict of "guilty in the first degree” was invalid where the jury was charged on alternative theories and did not indicate upon which theory it relied for its verdict.

As previously stated, the information in this case charged defendant, in a single count, with statutory first-degree murder and with felony murder. The jury, in its verdict, simply stated that "we find the defendant guilty in the first degree”. It is impossible to determine from this verdict whether the jury relied upon the statutory first-degree murder charge involving premeditation and deliberation, or upon the felony-murder charge, or both.

Since, as we have stated, the evidence was legally insufficient to support a conviction of murder committed in the perpetration of a larceny or robbery due to the fact that there was not adequate proof of one of the independent felonies, we cannot conclusively state that the jury did not convict defendant of that charge. This conclusion entitles defendant to a reversal of his conviction and a new trial.

Defendant’s next related claim is that the trial court’s instructions failed to inform the jury of their obligation to reach a unanimous verdict. The trial court instructed the jury on two theories of first-degree murder, felony-murder and premeditated murder. However, defendant contends that the trial court’s failure to charge the jury that a verdict on either theory must be unanimous was reversible error entitling defendant to a new trial.

The trial court, in instructing the jury, stated:

"Now in order to convict a defendant of murder in the first degree, you must be satisfied that he intended to kill Per Torolf Baevre and that the killing was [506]*506wilful, deliberate and premeditated or that he committed it in the perpetration of a robbery or a larceny of any kind.” (Emphasis added.)
"There are four verdicts available to you under the instructions I have given you; guilty of first-degree murder, guilty of second-degree murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. Now, your verdict, when you render your verdict, must be a unanimous verdict of the twelve that will sit on this matter.”

We feel that these instructions did not adequately inform the jury of their duty to make a unanimous finding as to whether defendant was guilty of premeditated murder or murder in the perpetration of a felony.

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Bluebook (online)
224 N.W.2d 691, 56 Mich. App. 500, 1974 Mich. App. LEXIS 751, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-olsson-michctapp-1974.