People v. Abernathy

• Decision Date: 20 January 1971
• Docket Number: Docket No. 8231,No. 2,2
• Citation: People v. Abernathy, 29 Mich.App. 558, 185 N.W.2d 634 (Mich. App. 1971)
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Walter T. ABERNATHY and Eugene Stigger, Defendants-Appellants
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan

Page 634

185 N.W.2d 634

29 Mich.App. 558

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.Walter T. ABERNATHY and Eugene Stigger, Defendants-Appellants.

Docket No. 8231.

Court of Appeals of Michigan, Division No. 2.

Jan. 20, 1971.

Released for Publication April 20, 1971.

Carl H. Leiter, Flint, for defendants-appellants.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. Derengoski, Sol.Gen., Robert F. Leonard, Pros.Atty., Donald A. Kuebler, Chief Asst. Pros.Atty., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before McGREGOR, P.J., and T. M. BURNS and ANDREWS, ^* JJ.

T. M. BURNS, Judge.

Defendants appeal their conviction by a jury of breaking and entering with intent to commit a larceny, M.C.L.A. § 750.110(Stat.Ann.1962, Rev. § 28.305).

At the trial defendants did not testify in their own behalf.Accordingly, the trial court, after a discussion in chambers with defendants' trial counsel, instructed the jury in the following manner:

'I charge you that the defendants had a right to go upon the witness stand and testify in their own behalf, if they chose to do so.The law, however, expressly provides that no presumption adverse to either of them is to arise from the mere fact that he did not place himself on the witness stand.So, in this case, the mere fact that neither defendant has availed himself of the privilege the law gives him, this should not be permitted by you to prejudice him in anyway.It should not be considered as evidence of his guilt or of his innocence.The failure to testify is not even a circumstance against him, and no presumption of guilty can be indulged in by the jury on account of his failure to testify.'

Defendants now contend that the trial court erred by failing to allow defendants to choose whether or not they wanted the judge to give the above instruction to the jury.

This court is aware of the difference of opinion among trial attorneys regarding an instruction by the court that no adverse presumption is to arise from a defendant's failure to testify.When, as in the case at bar, there has been no adverse comment by the prosecutor, some attorneys prefer that nothing at all be said about defendant's failure to testify.Other attorneys feel that the instruction should be given even though it reminds the jury, just prior to deliberation, that the accused has not testified in his own behalf.

Since we are here dealing with a defendant's right to remain silent, ¹ and since we are also aware of the difference of opinion over the best way to exercise that right, we agree with defendants that the decision whether the instruction should be given is theirs.²However, in the case at bar, the trial judge discussed the instruction with the defendants in chambers prior to the time it was given.Defendants' trial counsel made no objection at any time to the instruction being given.Although the defendants did not request that the instruction be given, their knowledge that the trial judge intended to give the instruction and their failure to object in any way was, in fact, a decision on their part to have the instruction read to the jury.We find no violation of defendants' right to remain silent.

Defendant next contends that the trial court, after sustaining defendants' objection in ordering a witness's answer to be stricken, erred in failing to instruct the jury to disregard the answer that was stricken.

On the motion for a new trialthe trial court rejected the defendants' contention in its written opinion where it stated:

"That the trial judge erred by failing to instruct the jury to disregard an answer given by a witness, when the answer was stricken by the court.'

'The witness said he was called by Abernathy to come over to see about selling some TV's and radios; that he came to an address and met defendants; saw some TV's and radios; and made telephone arrangements to get rid of them; and was arrested with defendants while they were loading the car.It should be noted that there was blood in and about the store burglarized and that the TV's and radios recovered came from that store.A part of this witness's testimony, on prosecutor Berry's direct examination, was:

'Q.Now, in regard to Mr. Stigger, did you observe anything unusual about him?

'A.He had--he had a handkerchief over his hand, toilet paper or something white, over his hand.

'Q.Do you know why, or were you able to notice why?

'A.I think it was cut.

'Mr. Sutherland: Your honor, I object as to what he might think.

(By Mr. Berry)

'Q.Would you--

'Mr. Berry: Well, your honor, I will withdraw the question.

'The Court: Alright, I will strike the answer.

(By Mr. Berry)

'Q.Answer in this way: What was he doing with the handkerchief or toilet paper he had over his hand?

'A.Stopping some bleeding.

'Q.He was doing something with the handkerchief?

'A.(No audible response.)

'Q.Show the jury.

'A.Kept dabbing.Kept dabbing.'

'Although the objection was sustained and the answer was stricken, later questioning made it apparent that the witness had observations that made the stricken answer appropriate as a statement of fact and not an opinion.It is not unusual for a witness to say, 'I think', 'my impression is', or 'I believe' when stating an observed fact.If it was an opinion, it is one that is nearly inescapable...