People v. Hamacher, Docket No. 80765
Decision Date | 08 July 1986 |
Docket Number | Docket No. 80765 |
Citation | 389 N.W.2d 477,150 Mich.App. 671 |
Parties | PEOPLE of the State of Michigan, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Richard Allen HAMACHER, Defendant-Appellant. |
Court | Court of Appeal of Michigan — District of US |
Frank J. Kelley, Atty. Gen., Louis J. Caruso, Sol. Gen., Robert E. Weiss, Pros. Atty., Donald A. Kuebler, Chief, Appellate Div. and Edwin R. Brown, Asst. Pros. Atty., for People.
Bennett S. Engelman, Burton, for defendant-appellant on appeal.
Before HOLBROOK, P.J., and T.M. BURNS and HOOD, JJ.
Defendant was convicted following a jury trial of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, M.C.L. Sec. 750.520c; M.S.A. Sec. 28.788(3). He was sentenced to prison for a term of incarceration of not less than 10 nor more than 15 years. Defendant appeals as of right.
The victim of the sexual abuse was defendant's wife's eight-year-old daughter from a previous marriage. Defendant's wife testified that she confronted the defendant after her daughter told her about the incident which gave rise to the instant charges. Defendant replied that he had made sexual advances towards the girl because she was willing to cuddle with him at a time when the mother refused to do so. This testimony was repeated. Defendant's wife also testified that she told defendant's sister that he admitted the act.
On appeal, defendant claims that this testimony concerned marital communications and that it should have been excluded at trial pursuant to M.C.L. Sec. 600.2162; M.S.A. Sec. 27A.2162. We disagree.
In Michigan, the two common-law husband-wife privileges are codified in M.C.L. Sec. 600.2162; M.S.A. Sec. 27A.2162, which provides in pertinent part:
"A husband shall not be examined as a witness for or against his wife without her consent; nor a wife for or against her husband without his consent, except * * * in cases of prosecution for a crime committed against the child of either or both * * *; nor shall either, during the marriage or afterwards, without the consent of both, be examined as to any communication made by one to the other during the marriage * * *." M.C.L. Sec. 600.2162; M.S.A. Sec. 27A.2162.
This statutory language codifies the common-law "spousal privilege" and the "confidential communication privilege". The "spousal privilege" applies to any testimony of a spouse without the consent of the other so long as the parties continue to be legally married at the time of the suit. It is, however, subject to those exceptions enumerated in the statute. On the other hand, the confidential communication privilege applies to confidential communications made within the marital relationship irrespective of the marital status of the parties at the time of the trial. People v. Wadkins, 101 Mich.App. 272, 282, 300 N.W.2d 542 (1980).
The trial court admitted defendant's wife's testimony concerning defendant's communications to her based upon the exception in the statute for criminal prosecutions for crimes committed against the children of either spouse. The trial court's decision was based upon People v. Clarke, 366 Mich. 209, 214, 114 N.W.2d 338 (1962), wherein the Supreme Court stated:
We note that the language relied upon by the trial court is dicta and we question whether this exception is applicable to the marital communications privilege. Nevertheless, we hold that the testimony was properly admitted.
In People v. Salisbury, 218 Mich. 529, 532-533, 188 N.W. 340 (1922), our Supreme Court explained the purpose of this privilege:
At common law "[t]he rule of necessity * * * created exceptions to the general rule making husband and wife incompetent witnesses in cases involving the other, such exceptions being partly for the protection of the wife in her life and liberty, and partly for the sake of public justice". People v. Zabijak, 285 Mich. 164, 176, 280 N.W.2d 149 (1938).
The Supreme Court also recognized that
...
To continue reading
Request your trial-
People v. Hamacher, Docket No. 81202
...that."(2) An affirmation of the same testimony.(3) "I told her (defendant's sister) that he had admitted it."3 People v. Hamacher, 150 Mich.App. 671, 675, 389 N.W.2d 477 (1986).4 People v. Hamacher, 428 Mich. 884, 402 N.W.2d 484 (1987).5 People v. Hamacher (On Remand), 160 Mich.App. 759, 76......
-
People v. Stubli
...status of the parties at the time of trial. People v. Wadkins, 101 Mich.App. 272, 282, 300 N.W.2d 542 (1980); People v. Hamacher, 150 Mich.App. 671, 673, 389 N.W.2d 477 (1986), lv. den. 426 Mich. 867 (1986). This privilege requires the consent of both Both of the privileges apply in this ca......
-
People v. Hamacher, 78557
...Defendant-Appellant. No. 78557. 428 Mich. 884, 402 N.W.2d 484 Supreme Court of Michigan. April 1, 1987. ORDER Prior report: 150 Mich.App. 671, 389 N.W.2d 477. On order of the Court, the motion in propria persona for rehearing is treated as a motion for reconsideration of this Court's order ......
-
People v. Hamacher
...finding that the trial court did not err in denying defendant's motion to preclude certain testimony by his wife. People v. Hamacher, 150 Mich.App. 671, 389 N.W.2d 477 (1986). Defendant appealed to the Supreme Court, [160 MICHAPP 761] and that Court vacated our judgment and remanded to us f......