People v. Gonzalez
| Decision Date | 02 July 2003 |
| Docket Number | Docket No. 120363, Calendar No. 1. |
| Citation | 664 N.W.2d 159,468 Mich. 636 |
| Parties | PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Daniel Jesse GONZALEZ, Defendant-Appellant. |
| Court | Michigan Supreme Court |
Michael A. Cox, Attorney General, Thomas L. Casey, Solicitor General, Michael D. Thomas, Prosecuting Attorney, Janet M. Boes, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Saginaw, for the people.
State Appellate Defender (by Susan M. Meinberg), Detroit, for defendant-appellant.
David Morse, President, Jeffrey L. Sauter, Prosecuting Attorney, and William M. Worden, Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Charlotte, for the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan.
Defendant was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder, M.C.L. § 750.316(1)(a); felony murder, M.C.L. § 750.316(1)(b), first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC I), M.C.L. § 750.520b(1); and arson of a dwelling house, M.C.L. § 750.72. The Court of Appeals affirmed defendant's first-degree murder convictions, but vacated the CSC I and arson convictions as predicate felonies for defendant's felony-murder conviction.1 This Court granted leave to appeal.
We conclude that there was sufficient evidence to support defendant's first-degree premeditated murder conviction. We further conclude that there was no evidence of an accomplice and thus the trial court did not err when it failed to give sua sponte a cautionary accomplice instruction under People v. McCoy, 392 Mich. 231, 220 N.W.2d 456 (1974). Moreover, defendant's attorney was not ineffective for failing to request the instruction. Accordingly, we affirm the judgment of the Court of Appeals.
Defendant's conviction arises from the brutal rape and murder of the victim, Carol Easlick. Testimony established that on the day of the offense, defendant and his friend, Woodrow Couch, visited the victim in her apartment.2 After a short stay, both men left the apartment. Later in the day, defendant returned to the victim's apartment alone. While there, defendant raped the victim, battered her to death, and then set her corpse on fire.3
Defendant was arrested and charged with first-degree premeditated murder, M.C.L. § 750.316(1)(a); first-degree felony murder, M.C.L. § 750.316(1)(b); first-degree arson of a dwelling house, M.C.L. § 750.72; and CSC I, M.C.L. § 750.520b(1). Defendant denied involvement in the crime. At the close of the proofs, before instructing the jury, the court asked both parties whether they wanted to comment or object to the proposed jury instructions. Defendant's attorney responded, "other than the alibi, I find nothing objectionable." Significantly, defendant's attorney neither requested a cautionary instruction regarding accomplice testimony nor objected to the trial court's failure to give sua sponte the cautionary instruction. Defendant was convicted by a jury of all the charges.
Defendant appealed to the Court of Appeals, raising several claims: (1) the evidence was insufficient to support the first-degree premeditated murder conviction, (2) the trial court erred by failing to give sua sponte a cautionary instruction regarding accomplice testimony, (3) his attorney was ineffective for failing to request the cautionary instruction, and (4) the convictions of both felony murder and CSC I violated his double jeopardy rights.
The Court of Appeals vacated the arson and CSC I convictions, but affirmed the remaining convictions. Regarding defendant's argument that the trial court erred when it failed to give sua sponte a cautionary instruction (and that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to request one), the Court stated:
Here, it is apparent that defendant's theory of the case was that he did not commit the crimes and was not present during the commission of the crimes. In this regard, Couch's testimony to this effect as well as his credibility was attacked by defense counsel during both cross-examination and closing arguments. The instructions provided by the trial court properly presented the elements of the crimes and properly informed the jury as to what should be considered when determining the credibility of a particular witness. Further, DNA analysis of the sperm swabs taken from the victim's vagina, rectum, and mouth established a match with defendant's DNA and excluded Couch as a potential donor. Under these circumstances, the trial court did not err when it failed to provide cautionary instructions regarding accomplice testimony in this case. [Slip op at 2 (citations omitted).]
Defendant applied for leave to appeal here, which was granted.4
"The test for determining the sufficiency of evidence in a criminal case is whether the evidence, viewed in a light most favorable to the people, would warrant a reasonable juror in finding guilt beyond a reasonable doubt." "The standard of review is deferential: a reviewing court is required to draw all reasonable inferences and make credibility choices in support of the jury verdict." People v. Nowack, 462 Mich. 392, 399-400, 614 N.W.2d 78 (2000).
Whether a trial court's failure to give sua sponte a cautionary instruction about accomplice testimony under McCoy was error is a question of law that we review de novo. People v. Hamilton, 465 Mich. 526, 529, 638 N.W.2d 92 (2002).
Defendant first argues that there was insufficient evidence to support his first-degree premeditated murder conviction. We disagree.
To show first-degree premeditated murder, "`[s]ome time span between [the] initial homicidal intent and ultimate action is necessary to establish premeditation and deliberation.'" People v. Tilley, 405 Mich. 38, 45, 273 N.W.2d 471 (1979), quoting People v. Hoffmeister, 394 Mich. 155, 161, 229 N.W.2d 305 (1975). The interval between the initial thought and ultimate action should be long enough to afford a reasonable person time to take a "second look." People v. Vail, 393 Mich. 460, 469, 227 N.W.2d 535 (1975), quoting People v. Morrin, 31 Mich.App. 301, 328-330, 187 N.W.2d 434 (1971). See also People v. Johnson, 460 Mich. 720, 733, 597 N.W.2d 73 (1999) (). Manual strangulation can be used as evidence that a defendant had an opportunity to take a "second look." Id. Moreover, a defendant's attempt to conceal the killing can be used as evidence of premeditation. Id.
In this case, there was evidence that the victim was manually strangled. Also, there was evidence that the defendant attempted to conceal his crime by burning the victim's body. Viewing this evidence in a light most favorable to the prosecutor, we conclude there was sufficient evidence for the jury to convict defendant of firstdegree premeditated murder. Accordingly, this conviction is affirmed.
Defendant next argues that the trial court erred by failing to give sua sponte a cautionary instruction regarding accomplice testimony.
As an initial matter, we conclude that defendant's failure to either request a cautionary accomplice instruction or to object to the trial court's failure to give one sua sponte, precludes defendant from seeking relief in the appellate courts.
M.C.L. § 768.29 provides, in pertinent part, that "[t]he failure of the court to instruct on any point of law shall not be ground for setting aside the verdict of the jury unless such instruction is requested by the accused." (Emphasis added). MCR 2.516(C) further provides that "[a] party may assign as error the ... failure to give an instruction only if the party objects on the record ...." (Emphasis added).
In this case, defendant neither requested a cautionary accomplice instruction nor objected to the court's failure to give one. Therefore, defendant is precluded from arguing that the omitted instruction was error. MCR 2.516(C). Furthermore, because he failed to request the omitted instruction, defendant is not entitled to have the verdict set aside. M.C.L. § 768.29. Consequently, defendant's only remaining avenue for relief is for review under People v. Grant, 445 Mich. 535, 520 N.W.2d 123 (1994).
Because defendant failed to object to the omitted instruction, defendant's claim of error was forfeited. A forfeited, nonconstitutional error may not be considered by an appellate court unless the error was plain and it affected defendant's substantial rights. Grant, supra at 552-553, 520 N.W.2d 123.
Defendant maintains that the failure to give a cautionary accomplice instruction with regard to Couch's testimony was plain error under McCoy, supra at 240, 220 N.W.2d 456, which held:
"For cases tried after the publication of this opinion, it will be deemed reversible error ... to fail upon request to give a cautionary instruction concerning accomplice testimony and, if the issue is closely drawn,5 it may be reversible error to fail to give such a cautionary instruction even in the absence of a request to charge."6
We conclude that it was not error for the trial court to omit the cautionary accomplice instruction because there is no evidence that Couch, the alleged accomplice, was involved in the crimes at all. Significantly, the DNA evidence excluded Couch as a potential donor of the sperm found on the victim. Moreover, the cautionary accomplice instruction would have been inconsistent with defendant's theory. Defendant's theory was that he neither committed the charged crimes, nor was he involved in any way. In fact, defendant's own attorney claimed that someone other than Couch committed the offense during his closing argument.7
For these reasons, it was not error for the trial court to fail to give sua sponte a cautionary instruction regarding accomplice testimony. Because defendant cannot show error, he cannot demonstrate plain error that affected his substantial rights. Accordingly, defendant is not entitled to relief for the forfeited claim. Grant, supra.
In a related argument, defendant claims that his trial counsel was...
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