People v. Daniels, Docket No. 92015

• Decision Date: 24 November 1987
• Docket Number: Docket No. 92015
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jerry Valentino DANIELS, Defendant-Appellant. 163 Mich.App. 703, 415 N.W.2d 282
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 282

415 N.W.2d 282

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Jerry Valentino DANIELS, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 92015.

163 Mich.App. 703, 415 N.W.2d 282

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Submitted June 9, 1987.

Decided Oct. 19, 1987.

Released for Publication Nov. 24, 1987.

[163 MICHAPP 704] Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Louis J. Caruso, Sol. Gen., John D. O'Hair, Pros. Atty., Timothy A. Baughman, Chief of the Crim. Div., Research, Training and Appeals, and Susan Randolph, Asst. Pros. Atty., for the people.

Craig A. Daly, Detroit, for defendant on appeal.

Before SHEPHERD, P.J., and KELLY and FORSTER, ^* JJ.

SHEPHERD, Presiding Judge.

Defendant Jerry Valentino Daniels appeals as of right from his conviction of first-[163 MICHAPP 705] degree murder, M.C.L. Sec. 750.316; M.S.A. Sec. 28.548, and his conviction of assault with intent to murder, M.C.L. Sec. 750.83; M.S.A. Sec. 28.278. Defendant was convicted on January 13, 1986, following a bench trial in Detroit Recorder's Court. Defendant was sentenced to two concurrent life terms and received credit for 141 days served. We affirm.

On February 13, 1985, Kimberly Bell admitted defendant, William Townsel, and a man named Woodlow to her apartment at 1892 East Outer Drive in Detroit. Bell was on the telephone with Darla Paramore, Bell's niece, and told Paramore that the three men had arrived. Townsel had been staying at the Bell apartment for approximately a week. Bell recognized defendant because she had seen him on previous occasions.

After the men arrived, Bell went upstairs to her bedroom. Later, Woodlow came upstairs and, after using the bathroom, came to the bedroom, pulled a gun and told Bell to shut up and not say anything. Woodlow leaned back out of the bedroom doorway and looked downstairs, asked if everything was all right and then fired three shots at Bell. He was standing approximately nine feet from Bell at the time, but none of the shots hit her. As Woodlow was going downstairs, Bell heard more shots from downstairs. She later saw Townsel lying at the bottom of the stairs. A neighbor testified to hearing gunshots and saw two men dash out of the apartment, one of whom resembled defendant. The neighbor testified to having seen defendant before.

Paramore, who had been dating the deceased, testified to previously overhearing discussions among the three men revolving around drugs and money. She testified that defendant and the deceased had argued over money but had remained friends.

Defendant presented an alibi defense through [163 MICHAPP 706] the testimony of his mother. She testified that defendant was at her home on February 13, 1985, from 8:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

I

Defendant first alleges that the evidence was insufficient to convict him of first-degree murder. When reviewing an issue of the sufficiency of evidence, this Court views the evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecution and determines whether a rational trier of fact could have found that the essential elements of the crime were proven beyond a reasonable doubt. People v. Hampton, 407 Mich. 354, 368, 285 N.W.2d 284 (1979), cert. den. sub nom. Michigan v. Hampton, 449 U.S. 885, 101 S.Ct. 239, 66 L.Ed.2d 110 (1980).

Defendant argues that there was insufficient evidence that defendant shot the deceased and that the killing was done with premeditation and deliberation. We conclude that the record in this case supports the inference that defendant shot the deceased. Bell's testimony indicated that she admitted defendant, the deceased, and Woodlow into her apartment on the night of the killing. There is no evidence in the record from which a reasonable trier of fact could infer that the defendant left prior to the killing or that someone else entered prior to the killing. Further, the only persons downstairs at the time of the killing were the deceased and defendant. Bell testified that she was upstairs at the time of the killing and Woodlow had just started to go downstairs. From those circumstances, a reasonable trier of fact could infer that the defendant shot the deceased.

Premeditation and deliberation can be reasonably inferred from the circumstances surrounding the killing. People v. Rotar, 137 Mich.App. 540, 549, [163 MICHAPP 707] 357 N.W.2d 885 (1984), lv. den. 422 Mich. 911 (1985). Here, the deceased was shot five times. One wound was a through-and-through shot to the head. Self-defense was not argued by defendant nor is there any evidence indicative of a struggle. There was testimony that the two had argued in the past about money. We believe sufficient evidence was presented such that the factfinder could infer premeditation.

Defendant also argues that his conviction was improper since it was in violation of the "no inference upon an inference" rule. See People v. Atley, 392 Mich. 298, 220 N.W.2d 465 (1974). We do not believe Atley controls the instant case. The record in the instant case reveals that only defendant and the deceased were downstairs when the shots were fired. The other gunman, Woodlow, who shot at Bell, was not downstairs when Bell heard the shots downstairs. We also note that the deceased was shot with a .32 caliber handgun while the casings recovered from the Bell bedroom were from a nine millimeter weapon.

Defendant next argues that the prosecution was required to negate every reasonable theory consistent with defendant's innocence. People v. Davenport, 39 Mich.App. 252, 256, 197 N.W.2d 521 (1972). Although defendant argues that there is a split on this Court with regard to this issue, we note that a long line of recent cases has concluded that it is sufficient if the prosecution proves its own theory beyond a reasonable doubt in the face of whatever contradictory evidence the defendant may provide. See, e.g., People v. Barr, 156 Mich.App. 450, 463-464, 402 N.W.2d 489 (1986); People v. Dutra, 155 Mich.App. 681, 400 N.W.2d 619 (1986); People v. Frank Johnson, 146 Mich.App. 429, 436, 381 N.W.2d 740 (1985) (and cases cited therein). We agree and find no error on issue I.

[163 MICHAPP 708]

II

Defendant argues that insufficient evidence was presented to convict him on the assault with intent to commit murder charge. Defendant was convicted on an aiding and abetting theory.

To support a finding that defendant aided and abetted in the commission of the crime, three factors must be shown. First, it must be shown that the crime charged was committed either by defendant or some other person. Second, it must be shown that the defendant performed acts or gave encouragement which aided and assisted the commission of the crime. Third, it must be shown that the defendant intended the commission of the crime or had knowledge that the principal intended its commission at the time of giving aid or encouragement. People v. Acosta, 153 Mich.App. 504, 512, 396 N.W.2d 463 (1986); People v. Simmons, 134 Mich.App. 779, 785-786, 352 N.W.2d 275 (1984), lv. den. 421 Mich. 860 (1985).

As to element one, in order to prove assault with intent to murder it must be shown that the actor intended to kill. People v. Taylor, 422 Mich. 554, 375 N.W.2d 1 (1985). Bell testified that Woodlow fired three shots at her from approximately nine feet. She testified: "He still had the gun pointed at me. He fired three shots." The trial judge inferred that Woodlow intended to kill Bell.

We believe it is possible to infer the second and third elements from the circumstances in this case. After Woodlow went upstairs and ordered Bell to shut up, he leaned back out of the doorway of Bell's bedroom to look down the stairwell and asked defendant if everything was all right. There was no testimony that defendant and the victim were struggling, arguing, or even talking. Why the question? The trial judge inferred from the question[163 MICHAPP 709] and the shots which immediately followed that defendant and Woodlow were acting pursuant to some prearranged plan and that Woodlow's role was to silence the only witness. We believe this was a reasonable inference. We find no error on issue II.

III

Defendant next argues that the trial court made insufficient findings of fact. MCR 2.517.

Currently, there is a split among the panels of this Court concerning the degree of specificity necessary to satisfy the above court rule. In People v. Davis, 126 Mich.App. 66, 337 N.W.2d 315 (1983), this Court held that the specific findings of fact on each element of the crime are necessary to satisfy the court rule. Another panel in People v. Taylor, 133 Mich.App. 762, ...