People v. Hall

• Decision Date: 22 August 1977
• Docket Number: Docket No. 27319
• Parties: PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Sherman J. HALL, Defendant-Appellant. 77 Mich.App. 456, 258 N.W.2d 517
• Court: Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US

Page 517

258 N.W.2d 517

PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Sherman J. HALL, Defendant-Appellant.

Docket No. 27319.

77 Mich.App. 456, 258 N.W.2d 517

Court of Appeals of Michigan.

Aug. 22, 1977.

Released for Publication Oct. 27, 1977.

[77 MICHAPP 457] James R. Neuhard, State Appellate Defender, Detroit, for defendant-appellant.

Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Robert A. Derengoski, Sol. Gen., Douglas A. Springstead, Pros. Atty., Richard J. Farabaugh, Sp. Asst. Pros. Atty., White Cloud, for plaintiff-appellee.

Before R. B. BURNS, P. J., and D. E. HOLBROOK and BREIGHNER, ^* JJ.

[77 MICHAPP 458] BREIGHNER, Judge.

FACTS

Defendant appeals a jury conviction of two counts of armed robbery, contrary to M.C.L.A. § 750.529; M.S.A. § 28.797. He was sentenced to 5 to 15 years imprisonment.

The incident on which defendant's conviction is based occurred on October 16, 1975. On that date a pickup truck containing two occupants was forced off the road and The victims provided a relatively detailed description of two of the robbers, but neither was able to identify defendant as being involved in the robbery.

stopped by three male persons. One of the intercepters showed a badge, stated he was a policeman and said he wanted to check the truck. Another robber brandished a long black-barreled revolver and announced a robbery. The wallets of the victims were taken, the victims were pushed into a ditch, and the three robbers drove away. Each wallet contained approximately $110.00 and personal papers.

About two hours later a pickup truck fitting the description of the robbers' vehicle was observed by a police officer. While being followed by the police officer, the suspects performed a one-hundred-eighty-degree turn and pursued their pursuer. Radio communication with the local sheriff's department led to the interception of the suspect pickup which proved to contain three males, one of whom was the defendant.

The individuals in the pickup were placed on the ground and searched. During this time, defendant was able to get up from the ground and run twenty or [77 MICHAPP 459] thirty yards into a nearby field. He was ordered to return and complied with this order.

A long black-barreled revolver, containing live and empty rounds, and a silver badge, similar to those used in the robbery, were found next to the pickup truck at the arrest scene. Missing personal papers belonging to one of the victims were found in the nearby roadside ditch. Although $94 in cash was taken from defendant, no incriminating evidence was found on him at the time of arrest.

At trial, defendant presented an alibi defense, although he chose not to testify in his own behalf.

ISSUES

Four issues are presented for decision by this Court:

I. Did reversible error occur when the prosecutor was allowed, over defendant's objection, to impeach an accomplice witness who had been called by the people in their case in chief?

II. Did the trial court err by giving a cautionary "accomplice testimony" jury instruction under the circumstances of the present case?

III. Was the evidence submitted at trial sufficient to convict defendant as a matter of law?

IV. Did the prosecutor commit reversible error when, during closing argument, he allegedly invited the jury to consider defendant's flight as evidence of guilt, and also to determine guilt by piling inference upon inference?

DECISION

I

Defendant's twin brother, an alleged accomplice, was called as a witness by the people. On direct [77 MICHAPP 460] examination, he admitted he had previously pled guilty to the subject armed robbery. On cross-examination he said he had not pled guilty. On re-direct, the witness acknowledged his contradictory response and said he was "under pressure" during the guilty plea proceeding. The people then, after receiving permission from the court, used the plea conviction record to impeach the witness.

The witness, brother to defendant, as an alleged accomplice, was not a res gestae witness for purposes of indorsement. People v. Fidel, 37 Mich.App. 338, 194 N.W.2d 732 (1971). A prosecutor has no obligation to indorse and produce an accomplice in his case in chief.

This Court has held on numerous occasions that since there is no obligation on a prosecutor to call an accomplice, he has no statutory right to impeach an accomplice when called by the prosecutor. People v. Johnson, 58 Mich.App. 60, 227 N.W.2d 228 (1975). The court, however, in the exercise of its discretion, can allow a party to impeach his own witness when he is declared to be hostile or in the event of surprise when the party calling the witness is misled and thereby prejudiced. People v. Heard, 58 Mich.App. 312, 315, 227 N.W.2d 331, 333 (1975); 98 C.J.S. Witnesses § 477, pp. 355-362.

An examination of the record discloses that the prosecutor was deceived into believing that the witness would testify favorably for the prosecution. It is also apparent that the witness grew hostile during the examination, causing the prosecutor to abandon further questioning as useless. The prosecutor did request of the court permission to declare the witness as hostile and the court did extend to him permission to proceed. On this basis, the prosecutor proceeded with impeachment. We find the trial court did not abuse its discretion under these circumstances.

[77 MICHAPP 461] It is contended, however, that the impeachment of this witness concerned collateral matters binding on the cross-examiner and not subject to contradiction. People v. Drew, 67 Mich.App. 295, 240 N.W.2d 776 (1976).

The people were incorrectly allowed to impeach their own witness as to a collateral matter. Because it was collateral, the prosecutor was bound by the witness's statements regarding his guilty plea. This would be error in the face of an objection. It should be noted, however, that no objection was registered here.

Absent an objection, we must look to see if the error is reversible. The standards to apply are set forth in People v. Heard, 58 Mich.App. 312, 227 N.W.2d 331 (1975). Was the error so offensive to the maintenance of a sound judicial system that it can never be regarded as harmless? If not, then this Court must be able to say that the error was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.

Thus, the first step in determining if error is harmless is to ascertain if it is unduly "offensive to the maintenance of a sound judicial system". This criterion is separate and distinct from the criterion "harmless beyond a reasonable doubt".

The purpose of the first criterion was explained in People v. Swan, 56 Mich.App. 22, 32, 223 N.W.2d 346, 351 (1974), as one to deter prosecutorial and police misconduct and to safeguard those individual rights which are so fundamental that the impact of their violation cannot be fully assessed.

The purpose of the second criterion is to safeguard defendant's right to be convicted only by a jury and only upon their finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In applying this standard, we may not substitute our independent judgment of defendant's guilt or innocence for the jury's judgment.[77 MICHAPP 462] Instead, we must assess only what effect the error had or reasonably may be taken to have had upon the jury's decision. We must determine whether there is a reasonable possibility that the evidence complained of might have contributed to the conviction.

Clearly, the integrity of a sound judicial system is not at issue in dealing with impeachment regarding a collateral matter. Furthermore, a review of the entire record convinces us that an inquiry into the witness's plea record, which inquiry was irrelevant to the issues before the jury, could not have contributed to defendant's conviction. We declare a...