People v. Alexander

• Decision Date: 08 November 1976
• Docket Number: Docket No. 18736
• Citation: 72 Mich.App. 91,249 N.W.2d 307
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Daniel ALEXANDER, Defendant-Appellant.
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 307

249 N.W.2d 307

72 Mich.App. 91

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Daniel ALEXANDER, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 18736.

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Nov. 8, 1976.

Released for Publication Jan. 27, 1977.

James R. Neuhard, State Appellate Defender, Detroit, for defendant-appellant.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. Derengoski, Sol. Gen., Ronald J. Taylor, Pros. Atty., for plaintiff-appellee.

Before R. B. BURNS, P.J., and KELLY and HUGHES, ^* JJ.

KELLY, Judge.

Defendant was convicted by a jury of armed robbery in violation of M.C.L.A. § 750.529; M.S.A. § 28.797, on February 16, 1971, and was subsequently sentenced to a term of from eight to thirty years in prison. Defendant appeals as of right from the trial court's order denying his motion for new trial, based upon newly discovered evidence, as well as alleged defects in the trial itself.

The record shows that on December 6, 1973 the Milner Hotel in Benton Harbor, Michigan was robbed. John Dry, the night attendant, testified that two black youths wearing nylon stockings over their heads took approximately $88 and the cash drawer from the hotel. Mr. Dry positively identified the defendant as one of the two robbers. The defense relied on at trial was that of alibi. Defendant was a juvenile, age 16, at the time of the trial and he was tried in circuit court pursuant to an order of the probate court waiving jurisdiction.

I

Defendant initially contends that the trial court abused its discretion in not granting a new trial based upon newly discovered evidence that would exonerate him. The test is set forth in People v. Boynton, 46 Mich.App. 748, 750, 208 N.W.2d 523, 524 (1973) as follows:

'A new trial will be granted for newly-discovered evidence only if there is a showing: (a) that the evidence is newly discovered; (b) that the evidence is not merely cumulative; (c) that the evidence is such as to render a different result probable on retrial; and (d) that the defendant could not with reasonable diligence have produced it at trial.'

An evidentiary hearing was conducted in the trial court on the post conviction motion. The record discloses that Luther Joseph, the original codefendant whose charges had been dropped as a result of plea negotiations, testified that he informed the defendant approximately four days before trial that Pat Scott, a friend of the defendant, knew who committed the robbery. Further, the record reveals that the defendant did not use reasonable diligence after being informed by Mr. Joseph, as the evidence could have been produced by him at trial.

The granting of a new trial is discretionary with the trial court. People v. Harris, 31 Mich.App. 100, 102, 187 N.W.2d 502, 503 (1971); People v. Blair, 44 Mich.App. 469, 471, 205 N.W.2d 183, 184 (1973); People v. Bersine, 48 Mich.App. 295, 298, 210 N.W.2d 501, 503 (1973), Lv. den., 391 Mich. 837 (1974). People v. Blair, supra, 44 Mich.App. at 471, 205 N.W.2d at 184, contains language particularly appropriate for this case:

'The determination of whether to grant or deny a motion for a new trial rests in the sound discretion of the trial court and since normally the trial court is in a better position to determine the credibility of the evidence presented, we will not disturb a decision below unless a clear abuse of that discretion has been shown.'

We do not find that the trial court clearly abused its discretion in denying the defendant's motion for new trial. ¹

II

The defendant contends that the trial court abused its discretion in excluding statements against penal interest in the evidentiary hearing on his motion for new trial. While this appeal was pending, the Michigan Supreme Court held that declarations against penal interest are admissible as a common law exception to the hearsay rule, without a preliminary showing of trustworthiness. People v. Edwards, 396 Mich. 551, 242 N.W.2d 739 (1976). However, Edwards was decided on June 3, 1976 long after the defendant's trial in the present case and would only have application to this case if it were given retroactive effect. The Court in Edwards did not indicate what effect the decision should be given. In People v. Hampton, 384 Mich. 669, 674, 187 N.W.2d 404, 405 (1971), the Court set forth the test as follows:

'The United States Supreme Court has discussed various factors to be used in determining whether a law should be applied retroactively or prospectively. There are three key factors which the court has taken into account: (1) the purpose of the new rule; (2) the general reliance on the old rule; and (3) the effect on the administration of justice.'

The purpose of the new rule promulgated in Edwards, supra, is to allow the trier of fact to determine the truth of the admission and the credibility of the witness who repeats the admission. The general reliance on the old rule has been substantial. People v. Sartori, 168 Mich. 308, 134 N.W. 200 (1912). Finally, the effect on the administration of justice would be substantial if declarations against penal interest were given retroactive effect because of the serious risk of fabrication of testimony that could take place after trial.

Therefore, based upon the three factor test set forth in Hampton, supra, we hold that People v. Edwards, supra has prospective effect only. ² Furthermore, the trial court did not abuse its discretion since it did consider the inadmissible evidence in ruling on the defendant's motion for new trial.

III

Defendant next claims that the trial court erred in not allowing testimony that would lay a foundation for the admission of polygraph examination results. He urges rejection of the rule that the results of a polygraph examination and the opinion testimony based thereon are inadmissible as a matter of law in Michigan. People v. Liddell, 63 Mich.App. 491, 494--495, 234 N.W.2d 669, 671--672 (1975). The polygraph issue is currently pending before the Michigan Supreme Court in People v. Barbara, lv. granted, 391 Mich. 761 (1974) and it is that Court's role to fashion the proper limitations and exceptions to the polygraph rule. People v. Rodgers, 66 Mich.App. 658, 663, 239 N.W.2d 701 (1976). Until changed by the Supreme Court polygraph examination results are inadmissible.

IV

The defendant argues that it was reversible error to try a juvenile defendant on criminal charges in circuit court without conducting a preliminary examination. We find that the defendant waived any objection to the failure to hold a preliminary examination. ³ In People v. McKinley, 32 Mich.App. 178, 179, 188 N.W.2d 238 (1971), defendant argued that his conviction was invalid because he did not have, nor waive a preliminary examination on the charge of unarmed robbery as required by M.C.L.A. § 767.42; M.S.A. § 28.982. The Court disagreed:

'Defendant's plea of guilty to the charge of unarmed robbery constituted a waiver of the statutory right to a preliminary examination. People v. Losinger, 331 Mich. 490, 50 N.W.2d 137 (1951), Cert. den. 343 U.S. 911, 72 S.Ct. 644, 96 L.Ed. 1327 (1952); People v. Tate, 315 Mich. 76, 23 N.W.2d 211 (1946); People v. Williams, 23 Mich.App. 459, 467 fn. 11, 179 N.W.2d 48 (1970).'

In People v. Tate, supra, 315 Mich. at 80, 23 N.W.2d at 213, the Court held:

'A defendant in a criminal case may waive his right to have a preliminary examination before an information is filed against him, as well when called upon to plead to the information as when brought before the examining magistrate. And if, at the time of pleading, he make no objection on the ground that such examination has not been had or waived, he must be understood to admit that it has been had, or that he has waived or then intends to waive it.'

See People v. Harris, 144 Mich. 12, 14, 107 N.W. 715 (1906).

In the present case, the defendant stood mute at the arraignment on the information and the court entered a plea of not guilty and at no time prior to, during, or even after trial until on appeal to this Court, did the defendant object to the failure to provide a preliminary examination. He cannot now be heard to complain. Cf. People v. Cullens, 55 Mich.App. 272, 274 222 N.W.2d 315, 316 (1974), People v. Miller, 62 Mich.App. 495, 497, 233 N.W.2d 629, 630 (1975).

V

Defendant next argues that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence a coat taken from the defendant where the foundation laid for admission was inadequate to show that the object offered was the same object involved in the incident. Defendant made no objection at trial or thereafter until appeal, and absent a showing of manifest injustice, specific objections to the admission of evidence cannot be raised for the...